Road safety experts are taking action to cut the number of deaths on a lethal stretch of dual carriageway.

Over the past four years there have been four fatalities and seven serious injuries on the A27 at Castle Goring, on the outskirts of Worthing.

Some of the accidents were caused by motorists cutting through the gaps in the central reservation near Holt Farm and the Coach and Horses pub.

Now the Highways Agency has decided to close the gaps and ban U-turns.

The move was backed Roy Barraclough, district fire commander for Worthing, who said: "We would like to see every major road without gaps in the central reservations.

Over the year we have had a lot of serious accidents on that bit of road.

"Hammerpot, near Angmering, used to be a major issue but they closed off the gap and now it's a lot better."

Earlier this year a pensioner died after pulling into the path of an oncoming car. Cyril John Dyer pulled out of Castle Goring Mews and across the westbound carriageway of the A27, so he could drive eastbound.

But the 94-year-old was either not paying attention to the road or had misjudged the speed of the oncoming traffic.

The retired construction worker suffered fatal head injuries when a black Renault Clio, being driven by Natalie Turner, ploughed into the driver's side of his car.

An inquest was told that Miss Turner, who was overtaking a petrol tanker at the time, had no time to react to Mr Dyer pulling out in front of her.

A Highways Agency spokesman said: "The agency is committed to improving safety on all of its roads.

"As a result of incidents outside the Coach and Horses public house and at Castle Goring Mews we are improving the junction layout on the A27 and will begin work on Monday, January 7, for two weeks.

"The work, which involves removing the right-turn at this junction, installing new road signs, resurfacing work, replacing road markings and installing new traffic islands, will be carried out to improve the safety at the junction.

"Sussex Police have been consulted and have made no objections to the scheme."

Andy Stickland, landlord of the Coach and Horses, said he was sceptical of the plans.

He said: "It's not going to be good for business because when people are leaving the pub at night they will have to travel away from Worthing and that means taxis will have to travel further and may not be willing to pick people up.

"I'm also sceptical as to whether they will make the road any safer because cars still have to judge the speed of the traffic coming from Worthing which more often than not is going too fast.

"Let's hope this plan resolves the issue but I don't think it will."

paul.holden@theargus.co.uk