SPEEDING drivers are using a Kidderminster estate as a racetrack, putting the lives of young children and pensioners at risk, residents have warned.

People living in Wilton Avenue, Franche, fear pensioners and children crossing the road from the play area and Franche Community Centre are in serious danger of being injured or killed.

Children have been knocked over in recent incidents, it has been claimed.

Four cats have died on the road in the last year - two in the last couple of months - one of which belonged to Ronnie Webb, 42, of Wilton Avenue, who is now campaigning for urgent action.

Mr Webb, who lives opposite the community centre and play area, said: "This is supposed to be a quiet road but it's busier than some main roads. People cut through the estate to get to the Co-op on Wilton Avenue, instead of queuing along Habberley Road. But the main problem is people showing off, speeding up and down the road, usually in the evenings between 6pm and 9 or 10pm."

He added: "I've lived here for a couple of years but according to a neighbour the problem has been ongoing for some time. Alright, it's a couple of cats that have been killed so far but it could be a child next time.

"I can get out of the way if a car speeds up the road but a young child or elderly person won't be able to."

Mr Webb said his cat was killed last Tuesday, at about 9.20pm, as it crossed the road from the play area. It was hit by a motorcyclist who stopped but then sped off.

Stuart Reynolds, manager of the Highways Partnership which oversees district highways issues, said: "There is not an identified problem in Wilton Avenue - it's the first I've heard of it.

"We would normally take advice from the police with this sort of incident and the gentleman concerned should contact the police who are the enforcement agency."

County councillor Michael Shellie, who lives in Wilton Avenue, said: "Mr Webb is quite right. We do get these boy racers."

And he particularly voiced concern about a 'blind bend' at the junction of Ash Grove and Habberley Road which he said some drivers approached at speeds of up to 60mph.

"We had a collision between a Shuttle bus and car recently. We have had children knocked over. It's more luck than judgement that no-one's been killed."