ELDERLY residents are calling for safety improvements on a Farnworth road.

Charles Hailwood, 77, of Turnhill Court, claims he and his fellow residents take their lives in their hands every time they try to cross busy Albert Road.

He stormed: "You have to wait on the pavement for up to 10 minutes for a break in the traffic. All we want is a refuge or a pedestrian crossing."

The nearest crossing is outside Asda but Mr Hailwood says it is too far for many of the elderly residents.

"The traffic situation has worsened since Asda opened because shoppers use Albert Road instead of Market Street to get to it. I think the amount of pedestrian crossings on Market Street deters them."

Mr Hailwood, a retired bus inspector, who has difficulty walking, claims he has been told that it will be at least two to three years before any safety improvements will be introduced to Albert Road. "But I'll be in Overdale pushing up the daisies by then," he said.

Dave Sutton, head of highway planning and regulations, said: "As far as I am aware there are no proposals to install a pedestrian crossing at that part of Albert Road.

"As part of our ongoing traffic management scheme, two traffic islands have been installed further down Albert Road towards Worsley."

He added: "We do monitor the roads for pedestrian movement and, at the moment, the only proposal we have for that area is a traffic signal at the junction with King Street. However, we have no funding for it at present."

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