A STRETCH of road that has claimed two lives in five years will claim more unless speed limits are enforced, claim residents.

Crown East has seen at least nine serious accidents in recent years, but the new calls come after a woman was cut from her Ford Fiesta with suspected spinal injuries following a collision with an articulated lorry at 7.30am yesterday.

She had been pulling out of a side road on to the A44, which was named as one of the 10 most dangerous roads in Britain by the AA in 2001.

The road has a 40mph limit and, though speed is not understood to have been a factor yesterday, residents say 60mph is common.

"The visibility from the junction is poor and, if a car comes past at 40mph, it's just about okay," said Chris Woodyatt, who lives nearby.

"But, if they're any faster, it's very dangerous. We've been told it doesn't meet the criteria for a camera.

"The area warrants a lower limit, a camera, or police presence."

Terence Reese, of Bath Road, Worcester, was jailed for four years earlier this year for killing 64-year-old Mervyn Walker in a collision near Crown East, in 2001.

Since the first fatality, in 1998, there has been an average of two serious accidents in the village each year.

"Something needs to be done soon otherwise more people will die," said resident John Smith.

Malvern Hills District Council put in a 40mph limit, in 2000, and raised the road to increase visibility in 2001.

A spokesman for the Highways Partnership said the council had no plans for further safety measures.