FAMILIES living near an accident blackspot are living in fear for their children's safety.

And they warn someone could be killed unless action is taken soon.

After the latest accident in Gamble Avenue, Windlehurst, Philip Davies wrote to the Star voicing his concern that although emergency services attended the most recent incident, it may well be funeral directors next time.

For years drivers have used Gamble Avenue as a short cut. Philip, a mature student, said: "Speeding drivers use it as a rat-run and the road is also heavily used at school start and finishing times by vehicles and children on foot. Something needs to be done urgently to reduce vehicle speed to an acceptable level before a fatality happens on this road.

"The residents are playing a waiting game until a child is without doubt killed - in time it must happen - as this is the fourth crash to happen in Gamble Avenue in approximately two years. In the residents' opinion that's four crashes too many."

In the most recent accident Philip's car and one belonging to his parents was hit by a motorist in Gamble Avenue.

He said: "This accident required the attention of one ambulance, numerous police vehicles and a recovery vehicle due to the three destroyed vehicles being in an unroadworthy condition.

"The occupants of the vehicle sustained injuries requiring hospital treatment.

"If no action is taken next time the services of a funeral director may be required."

Philip has written to St Helens Council requesting that something should be done in Gamble Avenue to prevent drivers from acting recklessy and residents have also launched a petition.

A council spokesmansaid: "We have a limited annual budget for road accident reduction work. The police injury accident records over the past three years are used to identify problem sites in the borough and a programme of works is built up from this. Up to now Gamble Avenue has not shown up as a high risk site, but any details Mr Davies can furnish us with about the recent accident he describes will be checked against police records and any treatable problems will be considered for future improvement."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.