A HURWORTH parish councillor has warned that growing traffic problems could put lives at risk.

Coun Peter Foster issued the warning after a pedestrian was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital after an accident outside the Spa shop on the village green last month.

Coun Foster said: "A lot of children from Hurworth Primary School next to the shop linger outside and an accident is just waiting to happen."

Cars can park in a row outside the shop, near the often busy junction with Roundhill Road.

"There is a post office inside the shop which serves a wide area, so there are always people wanting to park," he added.

Local people have also been campaigning to stop cars being parked outside the school.

Coun Foster believes Darlington Borough Council needs to look into traffic safety in Hurworth as soon as possible.

The borough council is awaiting the police report on the latest accident and said it would look carefully at any recommendations made.

The accident figures for the past 15 years showed there had been only five incidents in Hurworth, none relating to pedestrians