A WORRIED father says drivers who treat a sharp bend in the road outside his home "like a racing circuit" are putting the lives of his wife and baby daughter at risk.

And he is calling on St Helens Council to take urgent action to eliminate the problem.

David Hughes' worst fears were almost realised in January this year when a car smashed through the front of the family's home in Sutton Heath Road, Thatto Heath, causing £8,000 worth of damage.

Luckily, no-one was injured, but just 10 minutes earlier David's wife Michelle had been feeding baby Megan - who was then just six-months-old - at the exact spot where the car ploughed through the wall!

Michelle has suffered psychologically since the accident and has had to undergo specialist counselling.

That was just one of a catalogue of serious incidents on the stretch of road and Mr Hughes (33) fears it is only a matter of time before a tragedy occurs.

The latest incident occurred on Thursday, May 28, when David was looking after Megan. He heard the familar sound of a car screeching round the bend and the speeding vehicle looked to be heading for the Hughes' home before careering into a neighbour's car and roaring off. And just four days previous to that, three cars on the road were written-off when a driver crashed into them.

David told the Star: "For the last two years I have been fighting to get something done about this road. Accidents are always happening and I have repeatedly contacted the council to make them aware of the daily hazards faced by the residents and our families. The bend on this road seems to attract drivers who think they're on a racing circuit. They come speeding round the bend and then lose control. "As well as the accidents already mentioned there was one last summer when two XR2s were racing. One of the cars lost control hit a telegraph pole, which it brought down, and then bounced off a transit van landing less than 10 feet away from a bus stop where three children were waiting for a bus.

"Fortunately, so far, no one has been seriously injured but the story could so easily have been different. I am now organising a petition and hope that the council will listen to the residents. We want some sort of traffic-calming measures put in place, such as sleeping policemen, which would stop drivers using the road as a racetrack. If this road stays as it is, it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously or fatally injured."

A spokesman for St Helens Council said: "We have every sympathy with Mr Hughes. It is a very difficult problem to deal with, and we are aware of his genuine concern, and that of other residents. And while we cannot make any promises, we will give very careful consideration to alleviating the situation in light of the incidents which have taken place."

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