A WEST Mercia Police boss has hit out at vehicles flouting the law by driving around Worcester's pedestrianised zones - admitting he fears another crush death.

Bob Haynes, a traffic management officer for the force, says he's seen delivery vehicles ignoring the regulations by being in The Shambles well past the 10.30am cut off.

It comes as Greggs today secured permission to put tables and chairs outside its store in the street just yards from where Sylvia Russell was killed under a refuse truck one year ago.

The retail chain had applied to place seating and tables outside its Shambles outlet from 7am to 5.30pm, leading to objections from West Mercia Police and regulatory services, both of whom cited Miss Russell's death in their concerns.

During a Worcester City Council meeting today Greggs agreed to water down its plan, asking for them to be outside from 10.30am-4.30pm to match the pedestrian-only times.

But during the debate concerns emerged that too many drivers were ignoring the restrictions.

Mr Haynes, speaking during a licensing sub-committee meeting, said: "My main concern is about what happened last year, when the lady died.

"I think it was under a refuse lorry and my concern would be, with the amount of people in that area, if you have people sitting down something could reverse and hit them.

"My one observation is the fact that it is setting a precedent for the area - I'm concerned about a knock-on effect where we see all these other applications for the same thing, particularly in The Shambles.

"Once we start this, I wonder where does it end."

Councillor Simon Cronin then asked Mr Haynes if he had any evidence about drivers breaching the pedestrianisation laws.

He replied: "I know from speaking to other parties, that they do.

"I understand that they aren't always gone after half-past-ten and that's something I am concerned about."

Councillor Cronin said if that is the case, "we're in dangerous territory".

After more questioning Mr Haynes said: "I've seen heavy goods vehicles out after half-past-ten, I know it goes on."

He said he had seen vehicles out during the day whilst socialising in Worcester away from work duties, telling them he was worried about it.  

Helen Cameron, from Worcestershire Regulatory Services, was also at the meeting and had written her own objections, calling them "major" ones.

In it she said "there has already been one death in The Shambles", and also cited concerns about other retailers looking to copy the cafe culture.

Both Mr Haynes and Mrs Cameron said during the debate that their objections were less relevant after Greggs agreed to water down its request.

Mike Harwood, shop design manager at Greggs, said the firm takes "the safety of staff and customers very seriously" in its written submission.

The committee decided to accept the company's bid, for two tables and six chairs, in an enclosed section at the front of the store.

Today's debate comes a day after we revealed how Worcestershire County Council is coming under serious pressure to finish a review into the current pedestrian hours.

* Miss Russell, 69 and of Dent Close, was crushed to death near Argos in The Shambles on September 29 last year at 9.15am.

Nathan Beauchamp, 36, of Churchill Grove, Tewkesbury, denies one charge of death by dangerous driving and will stand trial at Worcester Crown Court in March.