RESIDENTS in the area where Paul Kitshull and Cheryl Lewis were killed claim the accident should have been avoided.

John Lamb, of West Bank, has been campaigning for a lower speed limit on the A4104 for years and is leading renewed calls.

Describing the accident, he said: "It was horrendous. I was sitting watching television when I heard a very loud revving sound, followed by a tremendous bang.

"It's a dangerous section of road. The visibility is very poor because of a succession of dangerous blind bends. The fact there are signs as you come out of Upton telling you the 40mph zone ends positively encourages drivers to accelerate."

He said Worcestershire County Council's highways department had inspected the site on November 7 but no action had resulted.

"There has been a series of near misses," said Mr Lamb. "It's a terrible thing to say, but now this has happened, perhaps the council will reconsider the matter."

Neighbour Ewa Kremplewska-Lawley agreed. "The accident was something that was quite preventable," she said. "We are going to write a letter to the police and copy it to the parish council."

They said many areas in Worcestershire that are not as built up have 30mph limits.

Further up the road, Lynne Herburke said: "My daughter was involved in a car accident so I particularly feel for their families.

"I'd like to see the 40-mile limit moved. The worst bends are after the 40-mile limit.

"If the speed limit is changed, then something good will have come out of it."

Mike Davis, manager of the Worcestershire Highways Partnership, said: "We will wait to see the police report into the accident.

"If the highway contributed towards it, then we will be happy to look at what improvements can be made."

However, he added that lowering the speed limit could be counter-productive.

"If we lower the speed limit and everyone ignores it, the roads will become more dangerous," he said.

"It might be more appropriate to introduce different signage or road markings."