RESIDENTS have pleaded with motorists to slow down on a town centre road.

People living in East Mount Road, Darlington, have sent a petition to the borough council calling for new speed restrictions to be implemented in the area.

But they are so concerned about a possible accident on the road that they are now appealing directly to motorists to cut their speed.

Resident Carol Gilmour said: "I would appeal to the drivers of Darlington to just slow down and be more responsible.

"It is just terrifying. I am just waiting for one of the big wagons to come off the road or one of the children to get hit trying to cross the road - it is impossible.

"We have tried to get the council to do something but they don't seem to be taking it seriously."

A spokeswoman for Darlington Borough Council said the road was one of many areas that needed traffic calming measures, but it could be years before it reached the top of the priority list.

She went on to say the special Speedvisor equipment, which flashes up the speed of oncoming vehicles, is set to be installed on the road for two weeks in February. In other parts of the town the system has cut excess speeds by half.

The spokeswoman said: "We have received a petition from residents and we have carried out surveys of traffic and put the road on our priority list.

"This means when money is available traffic calming measures will be introduced.

"We have also erected new signs which say Speed Kills, which we hope is a stark message to motorists."