HIGHWAYS chiefs had been warned that a 'dangerous' road was an accident waiting to happen a year before a couple lost their lives in a crash there, residents say.

Tom Morris-Jones said he contacted the highways department at Worcestershire County Council to warn them about the dangers of Otherton Lane, near Cotheridge, and the junction with the A44, last year.

But Mr Morris-Jones, who lives in Otherton Lane, said he was told that because no serious accidents had been recorded over the last three years, no action was required.

Emma Aldridge, aged 40, and Dean Turvey, 41, both from Birmingham, died when the motorcycle they were riding crashed into a car on the A44 Bromyard Road on Sunday, October 15.

Mr Morris-Jones told the Worcester News: "When I contacted Highways I told them that I hope to not be in contact with them again because there is a serious accident.

"Sadly, that day came last Sunday and two people lost their lives. Highways have two deaths on their hands."

Mr Morris-Jones said his concerns about the volume of traffic on Otherton Lane – which many drivers use as a shortcut between the A44 and the A4103 – were repeatedly dismissed by Highways.

He also believes that if Otherton Lane was an access only road, the car would not have been turning right and so the collision and resulting deaths may not have happened.

"The view right on the exit of the lane onto the A44 is obscured by the hedge along the side of the road, the bend in the road and the dip in the carriageway," he added.

"Vehicles, as a consequence, have to move well-out onto the A44 to see what is coming from the Worcester direction."

He also noted that as the 40mph speed limit ends before the junction, many cars travelling from the direction of Worcester accelerate rapidly.

A Worcestershire County Council spokesman said: "We have previously corresponded with a local resident following a request for a prohibition of driving order for Otherton Lane which, in consultation with the police, was not taken forward.

"We are unable to comment on the recent fatal accident which is currently under investigation."

Anita Price-Gough, also of Otherton Lane, added: "Local residents have been on and on to the Highways department and they seemed as though they couldn't care less.

"All of us could see that something like this was going to happen and now it has.

"It was just the most awful thing you can see, it's such a horrible loss of life."

The driver of the car involved in the accident was unhurt.