Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians have all fallen victim to the fast-flowing A419 trunk road, which has claimed the lives of three people in the last three months.

There have been a frightening number of serious accident on the stretch of road between Swindon and Cirencester.

Since January this year there have been at least 15 reported accidents and between 1994 and 1999 the number of people killed or injured on the road was 332 in a total of 224 accidents.

Gary Lees, a 25-year-old motorcyclist from Swindon, became the latest victim two weeks ago when his bike was in collision with two cars in driving rain near Cricklade.

And in August, 39-year-old cyclist Trevor Cuss from Cricklade and 22-year-old car passenger Kelly Mason were killed on the same stretch of road on the southbound carriageway near Castle Eaton.

Most of the accidents are concentrated around this section near Blunsdon Hill where for residents the sound of sirens is an almost everyday occurrence.

"On a daily basis we are left wondering whether someone has become another victim on that stretch of the A419," said the chairman of Blunsdon Parish Council, Colin Shiner. "The number of accidents is totally unacceptable.

"People's safety is being compromised. The phrase "taking your life into your hands" is true around here."

For years campaigners in Blunsdon have been calling for a bypass around the village to separate through-traffic using the A419 to get to the M4 from vehicles travelling in and out of Swindon.

They now feel their complaints and fears are being listened to after the Highways Agency, which became so concerned about the road, employed a firm of engineering consultants to create a strategy to reduce problems along it.

Local people have been given the chance to say how they would like to see the road improved before the company's conclusions and suggestions are published in the next few weeks and a public exhibition takes place in January.

Spokesman Robin Miller said: "Something does need to be done. We need to come up with some solutions which is why we are talking to local people who use the road every day. It is very important to get them involved and highlight their concerns."

One of the reasons put forward for the A419's problems is that Swindon has become a victim of its own success. But the speed of vehicles using the busy A419 is also pinpointed as a large contributing factor for its high accident levels.

Swindon police are targeting a section of the road until Christmas where a 40mph speed limit is in place while roadworks are being carried out near Blunsdon and have been alarmed by their findings.

Their figures show that a motorist speeds nearly every minute and during the first three speed checks, they registered 70 speeders going at speeds of up to 80mph in the 40mph zone.

The sheer number of accidents on the A419 has also attracted the notice of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

Since figures show nearly half of these happened in wet or icy conditions, the organisation is warning drivers to take particular care as the winter approaches.