RESIDENTS fear children are in danger in a dead end Darlington street that is being mistakenly used by lorry drivers.

People living in Lodge Street, near Haughton Road, are demanding that council bosses take action to stop the street being used by heavy goods vehicles.

They said they have contacted the borough council on several occasions about the problem, only to be "fobbed off".

They fear that if articulated vehicles continue to use their road, youngsters will be in danger.

Lorries are using the road to try to gain access to Chestnut Street lorry and car park, which is also a popular location for town centre shoppers to park.

Resident Greg Thomas said: "The problem is that there is a sign for a lorry and car park on Haughton Road, facing Russell Street. But when you turn into Russell Street the signs then disappear.

"You get artics and other sizes of lorries pulling into Lodge Street looking for this lorry and car park, only to find that it becomes a dead end.

"This is a danger to all residents, their children and their vehicles as the drivers struggle to reverse out.

"It's the same for people looking to park their cars on the elusive car park on Chesnut Street.

"They find it's a dead end and then just dump their cars on the street for the whole day, so when the residents come home from work there is nowhere for them to park their own cars."

Residents are now calling on the borough council to clear up the traffic confusion.

Mr Thomas said: "What we would like is residents' parking only and for better signs to be erected to keep the residents safe."

Central ward councillor Ray Flowers said he had heard the complaints, and a possible residents' parking scheme for Lodge Street was one of many options that would be considered by the council.

He said: "I will be bringing the problem with the lorries to the attention of the highways department.

"It may be possible that we can get a dead end sign erected to warn lorry drivers."