SAFETY improvements will be made on the Ombersley stretch of the A449 which earlier this month claimed two young lives.

The works between Ombersley and Claines roundabout will be welcomed by villagers after the tragic double death of 22-year-old Michael Jennings and William Hall, 19 on Tuesday, December 9.

After the accident, Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff demanded a statement on the timetable for works to tighten safety at the blackspot.

The government have promised to begin developing a solution in the coming three months, it emerged on Thursday.

Parliamentary Under Secretary for the Department of Transport, David Jamiesonsaid: "The Highways Agency will be conducting a safety study on this section of the A449 within the next three months, to develop a package of measures to improve safety. Any recommendations from this study will be added to the programme of safety improvements."

Mr Luff said: "There have been too many tragedies on this road. It is a great shame that it has taken such tragedies to persuade the Highways Agency to act, especially after their excellent work north of Ombersley. Even now, improvements will not be made for a long time.

"But this is progress - we now know that something will be done. I just hope that we will be spared further serious accidents in the time it takes to conduct the study."