A SCHOOL is calling for urgent safety work to be carried out along a road in Warminster to prevent serious accidents.

Kim Lyne, the headteacher of Minster Primary School, wants motorists who speed along Vicarage Street and Emwell Street to slow down before a child is killed.

She hopes that the town will soon receive funding for traffic calming measures.

Mrs Lyne said: "Our school is on Emwell Street and people use the road as a rat-run. They often speed through to get to Vicarage Street.

"Obviously parents have to come through to drop off and collect their children but it is the people who just speed through that present the greatest risk."

Jill Jelf, 52, of Vicarage Street, is also in favour of safety improvements. Cars have crashed into her wall four times in the last five years.

She said: "Motorists speed along the road and slide across and hit the wall when they reach the sharp left hand bend.

"We've had to call the ambulance out three times but luckily none of the accidents have been too serious, and haven't involved other vehicles or pedestrians. But a car could easily mount the pavement and hit somebody."

Cllr Kay Whatley-Gibbs, who is the chairman of the town's transport and environment committee, said: "The town council recognises that there is a problem and it is a blackspot that is on the top of our list for improvement.

"We would like traffic calming in both Emwell Street and Vicarage Street sooner rather than later."

Town councillor John Syme secured £5,000 of funding to improve part of the road at a Wiltshire County Council meeting on Wednesday.

He said: "The stretch between the Obelisk and Warminster School will be made safer."