RESIDENTS have warned that cars speeding through a Blackburn village suburb will soon result in serious injury or death.

Their fears were fuelled after a BMW crashed into a wall in Pleasington Lane, demolishing it, last month.

Friends Yvonne Hindle and Collette Hunt came to Thursday’s Blackburn with Darwen Council Forum meeting to plead for traffic-calming measures, average speed cameras and more police action to tackle drivers breaking the 30mph limit..

Borough highways boss Cllr Phil Riley said the council no longer had the cash for road humps and other physical measures but would liaise with the police and the Lancashire Road Safety Partnership to see what could be done.

Retired teacher Mrs Hindle, 68, from Pleasington Lane, told the meeting: “Residents in Pleasington are seriously concerned regarding speeding through the village. There have been several accidents over the years.

“Matters have been brought to a head when, on Saturday, June 9, in the afternoon a high-powered BMW car mounted the narrow pavement lower down from my home, demolished the wall and emergency services were called.

“It is a miracle no pedestrians were walking on the pavement at that time. If these points are not addressed there will be serious injury or fatalities in the village of Pleasington.”

Mrs Hunt, a 69-year-old podiatrist from Preston Old Road, said: “There are times when I am in fear of my life when I walk to church on a Sunday and it is even worse in the morning and evening rush hours during the week.”

Mrs Hindle called for traffic-calming measures including 20mph speed and speed bumps, introduced in Tockholes village and Shorrock Lane, Blackburn, in the past.

She also asked for average speed cameras to be introduced at either end of Pleasington village and for the council to lobby the police for more enforcement..

Cllr Riley said: “The council no longer has money for such physical measures. We will work with the police and the Lancashire Road Safety Partnership to see what can be done.

Mrs Hindle said: “I am happy with Cllr Riley’s response.”

Lara Barr, Lancashire Police’s central process unit manager, said: “We are aware of concerns over speeding in Pleasington Village.

"We take speeding very seriously and are working with Blackburn with Darwen Council to look into the issues in Pleasington.”