HIGHWAYS chiefs could introduce traffic calming measures on a busy road after an 18-year-old driver was killed in a head on smash with a bus.

Pendle Council today said it was investigating ways to improve Salterforth Road, Earby, after footballer Daniel Connor, 18, died on Sunday.

Daniel, of Tylesley Grove, Earby, was driving his Ford Escort along Salterforth Road, near to Warwick Drive, at about 7.20pm when his car and a single decker Burnley and Pendle Travel bus travelling in the opposite direction crashed.

The teenager, who played for Earby Town, was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering multiple injuries. Investigations are being carried out by both the police and Burnley and Pendle Travel into the incident.

But neighbours living off Salterforth Road said there was no need for buses to use that route and something needed to be done about the speed limit and the width of the road.

Ann Bailey, who house overlooks the scene of the crash, said: "We don't know how it happened yet or whose fault it was, but there's no need for buses to go there. There's not enough room. It's too dangerous.

"It is a 60mph speed limit and then suddenly becomes 30mph and vehicles come flying down. There are only a couple of houses on that road and I would think they all have cars so I don't see why the bus can't just come to Warwick Drive and do a loop and go back to Earby rather than go over Salterforth Road."

Her son James Drake, 24, who was first on the scene, said: "Something needs to be done. It is not a wide road and not suitable for buses. I heard there used to be a minibus covering that route which would be better.

"When you get a bus going in either direction there's not a lot of room to pass."

He also said it would make it easier for drivers if the road could be widened into the fields.

Peter Atkinson, highways, engineering and design manager at Pendle Council, said: "I've kept a copy of the newspaper article about the crash and will be looking into it. If the road was widened it would mean buying land which would cost money and the danger of widening is people then tend to drive faster.

"One possibility is reducing the speed limit and having a buffer zone of 40mph reduced to 30mph through Salterforth and Earby and some traffic calming measures such as rumble strips. I suspect this may appear as an item on the agenda at the next West Craven Committee meeting. It would then have to go before Lancashire County Council."

Graham Mitchell, communications manager for Burnley and Pendle travel, said: "Burnley and Pendle Travel has set in motion its own investigation and the vehicle is being examined by Lancashire Police and the vehicle inspectorate. We're fully co-operating with Lancashire Constabulary.

"It is a tragic accident and a shock. Our driver is shaken. He took what action he could to avoid the car but it wasn't sufficient to stop the accident. It was a modern bus, one of the many vehicles put on to the main line routes and was fitted with CCTV so there will be a recording.

"It's unusual for for people to say they want a bus service removing. It is an interesting point and I will look into it, but if they also feel that cars are going up there too fast maybe they should be giving some consideration to that too.

"We need to be clear this was not an accident between two buses."

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "Pendle Council looks after that stretch of road as our agents. They may want to look at the road and put forward some kind of proposals to make it safer and we would consider them."