A MOTHER-OF-TWO fears for her children unless new signs are erected to slow down speeding motorists.

Catherine Harris lives in Bridge Road, Darlington - the A66 trunk road that runs from the Reg Vardy roundabout into North Yorkshire.

She regularly walks with her children, aged five and seven, near the road, but fears motorists are unaware the road is also residential.

For the past 18 months, she has been asking for signs to warn motorists the road is used by pedestrians. The road has a 60mph speed limit.

"I have been fighting for this for so long now," she said. "To cross the road safely is just a nightmare at the moment.

"It is unbelievable in the morning and at rush hour. I just want a couple of signs to make drivers more aware.

"There's nothing we can really do about the speed, but if a few more drivers were aware pedestrians used the road, that would be great. When the children were smaller, I had greater control over them. Now they have grown up a bit, I notice the cars much more.

"I'm not asking for a big change - I just want signs up saying 'Pedestrians Crossing'."

Councillor Martin Swainston, whose Hurworth ward includes the south side of Bridge Road, said signs were needed.

"They really do need them up," he said.

"It seems strange that 100 yards down from where they live there's a sign saying 'Darlington, Britain in Bloom Winner 1998', or something, yet we can't have a sign saying 'Slow Down, Pedestrians Crossing'.

"The family are being very fair. They don't want a pelican crossing, they just want signs. It's time the Highways Agency did something about it.

"The last thing anyone wants is someone to be killed on that road. If that can be avoided by a sign, it's a small price to pay."

A Highways Agency spokesman said Mrs Harris' request was being considered.

"We are aware of the situation and are looking at possible solutions," he said. "We need to look at criteria for the use of signs on trunk roads, and also the volume of pedestrian traffic across the road."