A busy County Durham major road branded as “carnage” by residents is finally getting a new set of traffic lights.

The A690 turn-off onto Pittington Road, in West Rainton, near Durham, was branded “dangerous” by people living near the junction after multiple crashes.

The Northern Echo last year reported on an accident at the junction which resulted in the air ambulance being called to the scene and one man being taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Earlier in the summer of 2022 there had been a crash at the same junction, resulting in the “needless death of a young mother” according to resident Alan Lowery.

Mr Lowery lives opposite the junction, which he says gives him the “perfect location” for the “daily carnage” at the crossing point.

Read more: A690: West Rainton junction branded 'carnage' by residents after crash

The real-estate agent has since been campaigning for action to be taken at the junction in an effort to reduce accidents.

Other residents are also behind the efforts with a petition being started currently sitting at over 3,500 signatures.

Now, after a ten-year dispute, plans to install traffic lights at two junctions leading onto the busy road are being finalised.

Durham County Council is preparing to carry out works that will see traffic lights and a pedestrian crossing installed at the West Rainton and Pittington Lane junctions of the A690.

The council has been working on the traffic scheme for 12 months in partnership with a developer who submitted an application to build a residential development along Station Road in West Rainton

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As part of the planning conditions for this, the developer was required to fund traffic lights at the West Rainton A690 junction to support the infrastructure of the new estate.

Durham County Council says it decided to build on this decision and deliver a wider traffic light scheme in the area, which included signals at the nearby Pittington Lane junction

John Shuttleworth, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for highways, rural communities, and community safety, said: "For the last 12 months we have been working to develop a wider traffic scheme in this area of the A690 in conjunction with the approved development on Station Road.

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“This work will see traffic lights installed at two main junctions, and a dedicated pedestrian crossing created, which will support the infrastructure and traffic management of the residential development and wider area.”

Mr Lowery said the news was good but “too late” after “lots of tears” at a meeting at the junction with MP Mary Foy and Durham Police on Friday morning.

He said: “Good news but it has taken way too long, there were lots of tears there this morning from relatives and friends of people who have lost their lives, including the one in December.”