COUNCILLORS in Melksham have backed a hairdresser's call for action over a dangerous high pavement in the town.

Michael Clarke, 56, took his 800-name petition to County Hall last month and town councillors are vowing to make sure his efforts to have railings installed in Bank Street are not be in vain.

Town and district councillor Angie Barker said she wanted to make sure Mr Clarke's campaign reached its goal.

Cllr Barker has written to Wiltshire's highways director Richard Lander demanding action.

She said: "This has been a problem for years and one that I have raised before. I cannot praise Michael enough.

"I wish to see the work scheduled so that everyone will be informed if and when it is likely to start.

"I intend to make sure that this petition gets a fair hearing and just doesn't end up being filed in the back of a drawer."

Town councillor Jackie Wells also voiced her support for urgent improvements.

She said: "This work should have been carried out years ago. I think this is a clear health and safety issue and that should be the end of it.

"We have been lucky up until now but it is only a matter of time before someone falls off the pavement and under a lorry and is killed."

Mr Clarke owns Clarkies Unisex Hairstyling in Bath Road, Melksham.