THE Guardian is taking up the fight for Crewe and Nantwich residents, by launching a campaign for safety measures on South Cheshire's 'killer road'.

The A530 Middlewich Road, described by the AA as one of the most dangerous roads in the country, claimed another four lives in a tragic head-on smash earlier this month.

It is the latest in a catalogue of fatal accidents over the years that have led residents and local politicians to call for urgent action to halt the carnage.

Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council Leader Peter Kent said his colleague Tom Dunlop, former chairman of the joint highways committee, was now organising a petition to Cheshire County Council to take urgent action.

He said previous publicity campaigns had failed to work with the 'small but deadly minority of motorists' who are irresponsible.

Cllr Kent added: "Middlewich Road is generally one of the most dangerous stretches of road in the country.

"This carnage simply can't go on and the county council must take action very quickly indeed.

"We don't want excuses about budgets or assessment for priorities.

"It doesn't need a committee to see that it should clearly be their number one priority and they should treat it with the same urgency as they would a natural disaster that claims so many lives.

"There is a county forum meeting next month and by then I would expect to see a significant amount of progress which they can tell us about."

The Guardian is now looking to gather support in a campaign for road safety measures on the road including a reduction in the 60mph speed limit.

Willaston borough councillor and Tory group leader Brian Silvester said the road was fast becoming responsible for a 'mass slaughter' of motorists.

He said: "It is essential that we have lower speed limits certainly along parts of the road that are causing problems - 60 mph is much too fast.

"I also believe there should be traffic lights at the junction at the Rising Sun.

"Residents have told me that they never ever use that junction to turn right towards Leighton Hospital as the traffic comes at such a speed from Nantwich.

"It is clear that something is wrong there and I am amazed it is taking so long for anything to happen. How many more people have to die?"