VICTORIA Smith's life was made miserable by a busy main road.

Unable to cross it alone she could not reach her friends, the Brownies or get to the local shops.

So, 18 months ago, the then nine-year-old wrote to a councillor demanding a new crossing in Romany Road, Durrington, Worthing.

Nick Rodgers, who represents Durrington on West Sussex County Council, was so moved by Victoria's letter he promised she could be the guest of honour if a crossing was ever installed.

Victoria had almost forgotten that promise when, six weeks ago, news came through that the council had agreed to the request.

Coun Rodgers honoured his promise and Victoria presided at the official opening of the new £38,000 pelican crossing on the day before her 11th birthday.

Victoria, who lives in Chaffinch Close and attends Durrington Middle School, said: "It was like an early present. My mum was as happy as I was. It means she

hasn't got to drive me all over the place any more.

"I was a bit nervous before the ceremony, but it turned out really well."

Coun Rodgers added: "When Victoria wrote to me I went straight round. I said I couldn't promise whether there would be a new crossing built, but I said if one opened she would be the guest of honour.

"On the day I think she was a little overawed, but she was an absolute star. As it was just before her birthday, we arranged a cake and a guided tour of Worthing Town Hall with the mayor."

Romany Road has two primary schools, Hawthorns County and The Laurels County, just off either side of it.

Add that to a large Tesco and a daily stream of rush hour traffic, and it becomes easy to see why people living nearby have long considered it too dangerous to cross on their own.

Coun Rodgers has campaigned for a crossing since 1993. Schemes were twice turned down at the last minute owing to limited resources.

He said: "It will be of great benefit to everyone here. There are around 500 children in the two schools, as well as a supermarket and bank, which means a lot of people have to cross the road.

"It's one of those things you hope for. Victoria's letter shows how much it means to people round here. It's nice that she can see her friends again. What a good birthday present."

Looking back, mum Debbie said: "She was going on and on and on about not having a crossing, so I told her to do something rather than moan.

"Nothing happened for ages and then Coun Rodgers came round the house to say what the council had decided.

"We never thought it would come as far as this. There have been lots of campaigns to get pedestrian crossings put in, but they've not come to anything because other areas have been considered more dangerous and they've got them instead."

Although Victoria is delighted, sadly her best friend Hannah has moved from her home in Edmonton Road, on the other side of Romany Road, since her campaign started.

Debbie said: "It's a pity that Hannah's not here now, but Victoria's a year-and-a-half older than when she wrote the letter.

"She can go to the shops, visit lots of other friends and she's a member of the local Guides, so she's hardly having to sit alone at home.

"And every time she looks at the crossing she can think how much good she's done the area.

"It just shows what one person can do. I'm very proud."

Worthing mayor Brian McLuskie was delighted to show Victoria and her younger sister Katherine around the town hall after their big day.

He said: "I was very impressed by the way the young lady handled her campaign. The new crossing will do an awful lot of good for people of all ages.

"The way she handled herself throughout the whole day, from the opening right through to the town hall visit, was exemplary.

"Some day I'm sure she could be an excellent politician. Who knows, one of our future prime ministers could be living in Worthing already.

"I just hope I'm around to see some of the success."

Last night Victoria was spending a quiet evening at home with her family, celebrating her birthday and her achievement.

The pelican crossing was slowing down the rush hour traffic as children made their way from one side of Durrington to the other.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.