Our campaign to reduce accidents on the A4 drew support from all political parties and in just two months 3,000 names were collected on a petition.

It was launched to illustrate the strength of local feeling to the county council and cross-party councillors gave their full support to the campaign.

A number of influential people including Lord Lansdowne and the late actor David Hemmings added their names.

Chippenham and Calne Mayors Desna Allen and Tony Trotman, joined forces to help raise awareness particularly about accident black spots at Derry Hill and Studley Crossroads. Coun Allen said local people cared deeply about the campaign and making the road safe.

"The pressure has been enormous. The Gazette has really kept it going and kept it in the headlines. People are very conscious of the need to make roads as safe as possible. I am not surprised at all by the response the campaign had," she said.

In November actor David Hemmings signed our petition alongside Lord Lansdowne and North Wiltshire MP James Gray.

At the time the late Mr Hemmings said: "I am very happy to support the Gazette's campaign and am very impressed at the many hundreds of people who have thrown their weight behind it.

"I believe these efforts could be what's needed to get this death-trap road sorted out once and for all."

In the run up to Christmas the campaign gathered further momentum and councillors and Gazette staff took to the streets to gather signatures.

As the signatures mounted up so did the number of accidents on the road. By January a catalogue of collisions had occurred on the A4, further illustrating the need for road improvements.

Mother-of-three Karen Smith, who had been collecting signatures for the campaign, was hit by a car as she turned into her drive on the A4.

She said she was aware that it would not be long before she was involved in an accident because the road was so dangerous.