A PETITION calling for urgent action to tackle safety on a major Hartlebury thoroughfare was presented to the House of Commons yesterday.

The 573-signature petition, which has been prepared by the Hartlebury A449 Safety Action Group led by village resident Margaret Murcott, follows the death of Michelle Bolton, 16. She was killed when she tried to cross the busy road at Waresley in February.

The petition says: "The A449 trunk road between Kidderminster and Crossway Green is so dangerous to the lives and property of residents, pedestrians and drivers traffic calming measures are vital for the community."

And it asks the House of Commons to urge the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and Regions to introduce traffic calming measures.

Peter Luff, Mid-Worcestershire MP, who presented the petition, said: "We have had the tragic death of one teenage girl on the road this year.

There will be more deaths unless action is taken urgently. The work between Ombersley and the Mitre Oak has been very successful in reducing injuries and deaths. The time has come to extend that work north - and south down to the Claines roundabout too.

"Although I believe the Highways Agency does mean to take action, the residents and I agreed we needed to keep up the pressure to ensure the timetable does not slip.

"This is what I hope the petition will help to achieve."