Residents in Old Shoreham Road, Hove, demand speed cameras after woman is hit and killed by a car

An elderly woman was killed in one crash and a schoolgirl was left fighting for life after the other.

They happened within eight days on different parts of the same road.

Catherine Akehurst, 86, was hit and killed in Old Shoreham Road, Hove, on September 2 and the 11-year-old girl was knocked down by a car on the Portslade stretch.

Residents are now urging Brighton and Hove City Council to do something before there is another accident on the busy road.

Mrs Akehurst was sent flying into the air when she was hit and although it is unclear whether the car was speeding or not, residents say drivers sometimes reach more than 50mph on 30mph sections.

The pensioner was hit at the junction with Lullington Avenue, where the speed limit is 30mph, as it is for most of Old Shoreham Road.

People living directly next to where Mrs Akehurst was hit are now calling for speed cameras to be put in place to deter drivers from hitting excessive speeds.

Mrs Akehurst’s neighbour Sylvia Harwood had written to The Argus to warn of the road’s dangers just 24 hours before the tragedy.

And she has called for speed limits to be curbed.

She said: “After the fatal accident outside my house traffic is still speeding well in excess of the 30mph speed limit. There are children crossing to go to schools and all of us need a crossing here. It may be any of us meeting our end there soon if things continue as they are.”

Edyta Viand has two young children and worries when she has to walk them to school in the mornings.

She feels cameras would make drivers more aware of the speeds they are travelling at and make it safer for the residents.

She said: “I hardly ever see a car actually driving at 30mph along the road. Cameras need to be installed - it is so dangerous trying to cross the roads with the children.”

Mrs Viand suggested speed cameras be put in place between the Harwoods Jaguar showroom and the Homebase store.

The 11-year-old girl was knocked down by a silver BMW outside the Mayberry garden centre in Portslade, where the speed limit is 40mph, on September 10.

Residents describe the stretch as a race track, saying cars zoom along well above the speed limits with nothing in place to stop them. They want the speed limit to be reduced to 30mph and cameras installed there too.

A city council spokesman said: “We liaise closely with the police regarding all serious incidents on the highway and will continue to do so in this instance.

“Following the tragic accident earlier this month the police investigation is still ongoing so it is too early to say what measures might be taken as a result. We prioritise road safety spending on locations and measures that bring the maximum reduction in injuries. We’re constantly looking to do everything we can to prevent accidents across the whole city.”