CONCERNS over the safety of a junction on a recently upgraded road have intensified following an accident that claimed two young lives.

Residents in Sedgefield, County Durham, expressed worries about the potential for accidents at the village's junction with the A689 before a £7m scheme to turn it into dual carriageway took place.

Their worst fears were confirmed last month when a collision between a motorbike and a minibus at the junction claimed the lives of 20-year-olds James Cooper and Elizabeth Munt, from Billingham.

The accident has prompted Sedgefield Town Council to contact the council again with a fresh suggestion.

Members want traffic on the A689 to be barred from making right turns into the village via Stockton Road.

Motorists would instead have to drive on to the A177 roundabout and double back before turning left into Sedgefield.

Leader of the council John Robinson said: "Do not get me wrong, the dual carriageway is brilliant, but the major problem is over who has got the right of way, and there have been several accidents there.

"We have lobbied the highways people now for two or three years but, all along, they have stuck to their guns that it is safe and down to driver education.

"We are all worried sick there is going to be another accident and we are going to take it up with the county council."

Councillor Robinson said the cost of introducing a scheme would be minimal. He said: "This was a problem identified by the residents in the consultation process, and the highways people were of the opinion it would not happen, but it has happened."

Independent Councillor Jim Wayman said he would like cars banned from turning right out of the village.

He said: "Two people have been killed there and that is two too many, I feel very strongly about it."

Durham County Council said it could not comment while investigations into the accident were ongoing.