VILLAGERS want action to be taken on a country road following a series of high-speed crashes.

More than 150 residents in Audley have signed a petition calling for a reduced speed limit on Alsager Road, one of the main routes into the village.

The speed limit on the stretch of road between Audley and the A500 is currently 60mph, falling to 30mph once motorists enter the village.

But villagers believe drivers should be made to slow down as soon as they leave the A500, as many are still travelling at high speeds when they reach Audley.

Dave Pointon, who organised the petition, lives on Alsager Road and says he was prompted to take action after seeing a number of accidents.

Mr Pointon, a 48-year-old engineer, said: "There have been quiet a few accidents over the last 12 months, but more recently there were a couple within a few metres of each other, very close to where I live.

"Every time there has been an accident in the last year I understand the police have said it was speed-related.

"Driving at 60mph is fine on the A500, as it's a dual carriageway and it's relatively straight. But Alsager Road is only a single carriageway road, and it has bends."

On February 13, a 19-year-old motorist had to be cut out of his car after crashing into trees at the side of Alsager Road.

He was not seriously injured and was able to go home after receiving treatment at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.

But Mr Pointon believes it is only a matter of time before someone is killed or seriously injured, unless something is done.

He added: "After one of the recent accidents I called the county council about it, but they said they wouldn't change the speed limit until there had been a fatal accident. But it will be too late then.

"On two occasions there have been accidents where the car has ended up on its roof.

"I drive a lot for work, but I don't understand why people will risk their own life, and other people's lives, just to save a few minutes on their journey."

Mr Pointon's petition, which was signed by 159 people in Alsager Road and elsewhere in Audley, was handed in to Staffordshire county council by Dylis Cornes, the Lib Dem county councillor for Audley and Chesterton.

She agreed that something had to be done to make Alsager Road safer.

Mrs Cornes said: "Alsager Road is the only road into the village which still has a 60mph speed limit.

"Drivers who are used to driving on the motorway or the A500 are still driving at speed when they're approaching Audley, so they need to be slowed down."

She said she had spoken with highways officers about the issue and they would look into what action could be taken.