SHOPPERS are dicing with death as they dodge speeding traffic rather than use a purpose-built subway in Radcliffe.

In the latest in a series of accidents, a 78-year-old man suffered minor head injuries when he was struck by a car being driven along the busy Pilkington Way by former Radcliffe Conservative councillor Mrs Sandra Lomax.

Mr Gordon Davey, of Salisbury Road, Radcliffe, was attempting to cross the four-lane dual carriageway rather than use the nearby subway. He was taken to Bury General Hospital and detained overnight for observation.

Now Bury Council chiefs are being called on to act before someone is killed.

Mr Rodney Launders, of Osborne Walk, Radcliffe, who witnessed Thursday afternoon's (May 15) accident, said he was amazed at the stupidity of shoppers who preferred to play a game of chicken with speeding cars when there was a subway only yards away.

"Only minutes after the accident happened, I watched in disbelief as other shoppers, some laden with bags of shopping, attempted to take a similar route," said Mr Launders.

"They seem oblivious to the dangers of crossing a busy road, putting themselves at risk as well as the drivers of cars using Pilkington Way.

"Why they cannot be bothered to use the subway is a mystery. Their stupidity could cost them their lives."

Mr Launders now wants council bosses to block off the by-pass with barriers to deter others from "playing chicken", a call backed by Mrs Lomax, who was involved in the accident.

"The by-pass is very busy and you don't expect to see people carrying their shopping over the carriageway," she said. "I saw Mr Davey a split second before we collided.

"Anything that can be done to direct people to use the subway and prevent any similar accidents in the future should be acted upon."

The opening of the Asda supermarket more than twelve months ago has exacerbated the problems faced by motorists travelling along Pilkington Way with shoppers going to and from the store.

According to traffic police there have, however, been only two car/pedestrian accidents in the past twelve months.

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