Neighbours on a road where a woman was killed in a hit and run are demanding safety improvements.

All the residents asked by The Argus yesterday said Brighton Road in Lancing was a rat-run which attracted speeding motorists who drive at up to 80 miles per hour.

They have demanded lower speed limits, more crossings and speed cameras to cut the risk of death on the road where Michelle Dever lost her life on February 2.

Speed has not been identified as an issue in the case of Miss Dever but neighbours on the road say they are in constant danger of other motorists who race down the road.

David Gunstone, from Brighton Road, said there had been a series of crashes and shunts.

Official figures show there have been 41 accidents on Brighton Road between New Salts Farm Road, Shoreham, and the junction with Western Road, Lancing, between 2003 and the end of 2005.

There have been 54 casualties, with 47 of those described as "slight" and seven described as "serious".

Ashley Strudwick, 17, from Brighton Road, said: "They race along here, especially late at night. It's a 40mph limit but they easily reach 80 or 100mph.

"It is a dangerous road. Crossings would help. So would speed cameras or just whatever is necessary."

Martin Feather, 48, who lives metres from the site where Ms Dever died, said: "The speed limit should be reduced straight away, that's the first thing.

"When the road is clear they put their foot down. It's a dual carriageway and they see no reason to slow down.

"I'm not a big fan of speed cameras at all but if that's what it takes, so be it."

Emma Redgrave, who has a small child, agreed: "It's got to be a 30mph limit. You get a lot of the "boom boom boys" coming down here with their music blazing and you can hear them inside the house tearing past. There have been lots of crashes right along the road and it is about time they did something about it."

Gemma Stringer, from Brighton Road, said: "It's a straight road and all the boy racers zoom along, doing way faster than they should - 80mph is common and when you think it's only a 40mph limit, that's crazy. I've lived here for a long time and it has always been the same."

Another Brighton Road resident said the congested A27 meant drivers took the A259 Brighton Road as an alternative route and used it as a rat-run. She said: "It's incredibly dangerous."

Ms Dever, who was practice manager at Shoreham Dental Centre, was killed after parking near the Kia garage on Brighton Road.

She crossed to the south side of the road and, just as she reached the pavement, the car struck her.

A 22-year-old man has been arrested and bailed by police after the car was found dumped about one mile west at Beach Green.

Ms Dever's family were among the first to call for improvements to be made to Brighton Road.

West Sussex County Council (WSCC) said it would consider safety improvements.

A spokesman said: "We do meet on site with the police after all serious and fatal accidents to assess what happened and if there is anything that might need to be done to prevent future accidents.

A spokesman for the Sussex Safety Camera Partnership (SSCP) said: "If WSCC concludes that safety camera enforcement is a possible casualty reduction solution, the SSCP will look at that."