GAZETTE & HERALD: Work at an accident blackspot in Corsham has been delayed because £10,000 of stone slabs have been stolen from the supplier.

Workmen had started to widen the footpath at the expense of the road in a bid to improve safety at a crossing in Pickwick Road.

New paving, kerbs, better street lighting and road resurfacing were also part of the scheme at the crossing where pedestrians have been involved in six accidents in three-and-a-half years.

Work started at the end of April and was expected to take six weeks before the unexpected delay happened.

Wiltshire County Council senior traffic technician Sarah Baldwin said the theft would disrupt works for about three weeks.

She said: "Unfortunately due to a theft from our suppliers, the natural stone slabs are not available, which will delay the scheme.

"In order to cause as little disruption to local businesses as possible we are closing the site down until the new stone arrives.

"It's a shame. The stone paving would have finished off the scheme nicely.

"It is disappointing we have to pull out of the site for a few weeks.

"We all want it in place so we can get the crossing up and running as soon as possible."

The slabs were to be part of the widened footpath in front of a row of businesses and shops.

The council expects work to start on the site again on July 5.

The zebra crossing outside the library has been a serious bone of contention among residents for a number of years.

Wiltshire County Council's statistics show that between January 2000 and June 2003 there were six accidents involving pedestrians.

Corsham residents say near misses are a regular occurrence and that many drivers tend to ignore the crossing.