TEACHERS and schoolchildren are asking for speed humps to be installed on a busy road in the market town of Pickering because they fear a repetition of recent accidents.

However, residents in Middleton Road and Swainsea Lane say they want a public meeting on the issue. Spokesman Trevor Schofield said: "Rumble strips or 30mph roundels painted on the road should be considered rather than an all-or-nothing approach."

Tony Wright, of the county highways department, said Pickering Town Council, the police and the Blind and Partially Sighted Society all supported the action.

Andew Clark, headteacher of the town's primary school, said: "We have over a thousand pupils using schools in this area. There have already been two accidents in recent weeks. Do we want to wait until there is another, probably much more serious accident, before something is done?"

The issue is to go before the county council's Ryedale area committee following any objections which may be made after the publication of legal notices on the proposed traffic calming schemes.