A FYLDE schoolgirl is heading a campaign to halt "rat run" Traffic in a St Annes street in a bid to keep her little brother safe.

In an impassioned letter to The Citizen, Jemma Brown, 12, of Kendal Road, complained that she is one of around 20 children who are unable to play down their street because of heavy traffic

She claims that motorists are using their quiet residential street as a route to avoid heavier traffic on the busier Highbury Road, St Davids Road and Heeley Road.

And she is worried that her seven-year-old brother, Ben, may fall victim after Fylde Borough Council officials reportedly told residents that they could do nothing about the situation until there was proof of a traffic problem or an incident occurs.

Jemma , a pupil at Lytham St Annes High School, is now urging people to sign a petition forcing officials to take action before something happens.

She said: "I don't play out any more so it doesn't affect me too much but I have a seven-year-old brother and he enjoys playing outside with all his friends.

"It makes me angry he has to be so careful when he is supposed to be out enjoying himself like every other little boy in the country.

"I can't believe we have to wait until someone is hurt until they take action, because that could easily be my brother. Why aren't the children important enough to make the council take action before they get hurt or killed."

Jemma's mum, Karen, 36, says there is no deterrent to motorists and warns that the streets children are in danger of becoming a "future statistic".

Karen, specialist support worker at Mayfield School, said: "It's outrageous that the council are not willing to do something about the situation.

"Residents in other areas of St Annes have complained about traffic levels causing damage to the foundations of houses and managed to get their street access only. We complain about traffic causing a hazard to our children and we get nowhere. It's obvious that property is worth more than the welfare of future generations.

"Children should be protected and the local authorities should treat this as a priority, but there's absolutely no interest.

"These cars just swing into the road without a second thought, sometimes reaching very high speeds. There have been a number of 'near misses' and it's only a matter of time before somebody dies.

"We need some sort of county council-backed deterrent to motorists, our children are much too precious to become a future statistic."

A Fylde Council spokesman denied that any of their officials made a comment on the Kendal Road traffic and says the issue is out of their jurisdiction.

She said: "This issue has correctly been identified by the county council responsible for dealing with all road traffic matters."

And a Lancashire County Council spokesman denied there was a problem.

He said: "We carried out tests on Kendal Road last year. Traffic levels are as expected and no evidence of rat running was discovered.

"If there is a problem residents should contact us and we will investigate."