EXTRA speed limit signs will be placed on a notorious section of the A449 near the newly-installed speed cameras at Hawford near Worcester.

Worcestershire County Council, which has taken responsibility for the road from the Highways Agency, is in the process of introducing a number of measures to help prevent more accidents along the dual carriageway between Worcester and Ombersley.

From October 2004 to September last year there were 33 casualties on that stretch of the A449.

Of these there were five fatalities, four people were seriously injured and there were 24 slight injuries. Speed cameras were installed in two places on the southbound carriageway and at one place on the northbound carriageway in November.

The council's cabinet member for the environment Councillor Derek Prodger said signs warning motorists of the speed cameras which also incorporate derestriction speed limit signs would also soon go up.

Motorist Andy Martyr, from Inkberrow, travels to work in Hartlebury along the road and believes more signs are needed so that drivers know exactly what the legal speed limit is as they pass the cameras.

He said motorists are confused about the speed limit along that section of the A449 and brake suddenly when they see the cameras.

"I have seen a number of dangerous incidents there since the speed cameras went up. Drivers don't know what the speed limit is.

"Unless something is done about a sign, there will be an accident there this winter."

Coun Prodger said he understood people's concerns and that speed camera warning signs incorporating a derestriction speed sign would be put up to reinforce the message that there is a 70mph speed limit.

He said the county council was also working on introducing measures to improve road safety at the entrance to King's Hawford School on the A449.

Many drivers on the school run making the difficult manoeuvre of crossing the dual carriageway, using a narrow gap in the central reservation, before turning right towards Worcester.