JA-ACKED traffic on the A6 has led to a dangerous 'rat run' through narrow village streets.

And now worried residents are calling for action - before someone is seriously injured.

They say that motorists fed up of queuing in tailbacks on the A6 through Galgate are using minor roads through the village to cut through the jams.

One of the roads is Chapel Lane, where Ellel city councillor Helen Helme says parents and children walking to school are 'dicing with death'.

"It is particularly bad in the mornings and so we are keen to get it sorted before schools go back in September and someone is injured.

"One suggestion is to make Chapel Street a cul-de-sac and the other is to put in traffic calming measures," says cllr Helme.

"It seems to be mainly people going to the university who are causing the problem and so there is also an element of trying to get them to use the new link road.

"However, something needs to be done soon because it is a huge concern for residents and parents."

A consultation is currently being carried out with neigh-bours and Lancaster MP Ben Wallace is urging Lancashire County Council to act.

He says roads such as Chapel Street are in poor condition already and adds: "Local coun-cillors and residents believe these problems deserve more of the county's attention: I do too, which is why I have asked the chief executive to let me know what action is being taken."

A spokesman for the county says it is aware of the 'poor' condition of the road and adds: "The county has a limited budget and has to prioritise how the money is spent. At the moment there are no plans to carry out work on the footways although we do hope to carry out work on the road surface."