Campaigners are demanding immediate action to an accident blackspot that has claimed yet another life.

A man from the Darlington area was killed instantly at teatime on Monday after attempting to join a stretch of the A66 at Elton, near Stockton, known locally as 'death mile'.

He was joining the eastbound dual carriageway from the Sandy Leas Lane junction in his Nissan Sunny when he collided with a Honda.

The man, who has not yet been named by police, was certified dead at the scene, and the Honda driver, who is from Billingham, was taken to the University Hospital of North Tees with chest injuries, where he is described as comfortable.

Today, Dave Williams, who is chairman of Long Newton Parish Council and co-ordinator of the Residents Against Interchange Delay (RAID), said it was only a matter of time before the danger road claimed another life.

The Highways Agency is set to begin an £8.5m scheme to improve the road layout in April or May next year, but, in the meantime, Mr Williams said action had to be taken.

"These things will unfortunately continue to occur until the actual new junction is built," he said.

"We have been campaigning for 20 years or more and many people have died and this is yet another sad example.

"I understand the new road scheme is about to go to tender. Obviously, we will continue to monitor it and hold meetings in the meantime to try to get improvements in the short term - to see if there is anything that can be done in the interim period."

He said the parish council was eager to work with both Darlington and Stockton councils to see if traffic heading towards Durham and Tees Valley Airport could be re-routed off the A66 earlier and onto the A167 to help reduce the volume of traffic.

And he said signs should be displayed along the stretch of road where slip roads from both Elton and Long Newton join the A66 to remind drivers of the potential for accidents.

Between 1987 and 1992, there were 35 serious crashes on that part of the road and in 1985 seven people died in seven months.

A speed camera has been installed there, along with road markings urging motorists to slow down, but Mr Williams said more was still needed. Any witnesses to the accident at 5.50pm on Monday should contact Cleveland's Road Policing Unit on (01642) 301552.