CAMPAIGNERS have finally won their 30-year battle to see a pedestrian crossing installed outside a Worcester hospital - two months after the site closed.

Pensioner Margaret Cook was stunned when she saw the crossing had been built outside the empty Ronkswood Hospital.

The 68-year-old said she was disgusted, after years "chancing her life" crossing the busy Newtown Road, that it had taken three decades and scores of petitions for the city council to act.

She also claimed the crossing had been installed "miles away" from the houses it was designed to benefit.

"I'd like to congratulate the persons who gave the green light to build the crossing," she fumed.

"I thought the idea was to have a crossing when the hospital was still being used.

"You had to risk your life trying to run across the road for a bus back into town. You could never see the oncoming traffic coming over the hill. And now the new crossing has been placed miles away from any houses."

Worcester City Council's Independent councillors had, in the past, joined forces with residents to campaign for the crossing.

Councillor Mike Layland is angered it has been built after the hospital was shut.

"Now there is a crossing, it's just been put in the most stupid and ridiculous place," he said.

"It should have been placed opposite the housing estate near to Canterbury Road where people are likely to cross. No residents use the crossing because it simply isn't convenient."

Mrs Cook branded another crossing, near the Gun Tavern, "a nightmare".

She claimed the refuge was far too small and very dangerous, especially for mums with pushchairs.

Andy Rickman, assistant engineer for the city council's traffic management department, said a pelican crossing by the Gun Tavern "was not justified under the approved criteria".

He defended the siting of the new crossing, but did not comment on the installation date.

"The position was determined after reference to interested parties - including West Mercia police, Ronkswood Action Group, county council officers, the city's housing department, Ronkswood junior school and ward councillors," he said.

"Alternative locations were considered, but found to be unsuitable based on safety and design requirements."