CALLS are being made to ban traffic from Worcester's "dangerous" city centre for an extra two hours each day to make it safer and less polluted.

The suggestion – from a former city mayor – would mean the city's pedestrianised streets barring all vehicles from 9.30am to 5.30pm.

Cllr Alan Amos says he knows of "no other city in England" which has rules as relaxed as Worcester, where vehicles can trundle along busy streets any time until 10.30am and after 4.30pm.

It means many shoppers have to dodge delivery vehicles while trying to shop in the mornings or during the evening rush hour.

The call for a tightening of hours follows the tragic death of Sylvia Russell, 69, who was crushed under a waste truck in the Shambles in September 2014.

Cllr Amos said: "The current situation is unnecessary, dangerous and polluting.

"We have large lorries and other vehicles driving into, and parking right in the middle of a shopping area for three hours whilst the shops are open.

"I know of no other city in England that would allow it."

He wants the city council to start consulting with businesses over it, saying as the authority has devised a new Tourism Strategy it would be an ideal time to press for the change.

But the ultimate choice would be made by Worcestershire County Council, leading to some city councillors criticising his attempt to get both authorities involved.

Cllr Geoff Williams, cabinet member for growth and economic prosperity at the city council, said: "As Cllr Amos well knows, decisions on this important issue rest with his colleagues at County Hall, not with the city council.

"We are already taking a lead on tourism in Worcester, as demonstrated by the publication of the new Tourism Strategy.

"However, if Cllr Amos thinks the city council can do this on its own, he could not be more wrong."

Bosses at County Hall have already started to look at possible changes, but the process has been held up by work on a new emerging blueprint, the Local Transport Plan 4.

Any change would also require extensive consultation with the public and businesses first.

David Blake, corporate director for economic development and planning policy at the city council, said: "The traffic is an ongoing issue between officers here, and officers at the county council.

"It would require an 'Examination in Public' before anything can be done, the process is quite convoluted – we are on the case, but it's not a simple process."

Ms Russell, who lived in Dent Close, died just after 9.15am on September 29, 2014 outside Argos.

Some city shoppers say they do want traffic barred from the city centre for longer.

Mike Hipkiss, 61, of Rose Avenue, Tolladine, said: "You see vehicles all along the Shambles close to 11am now, it's a joke."

Mandy Pearson, a nurse, 44, of Warndon, added: "It'd make the city centre a lot nicer."

Cllr Joy Squires, the city council's deputy leader, did a poll in 2015 which suggested 70 per cent of people back change

Last night Councillor Marcus Hart, the cabinet member for highways at County Hall, said: "We are planning on reviewing the traffic restrictions in the Shambles and other pedestrianised areas of the city centre as part of improvement works we intend to do.

"We will however need to consult with affected business and other stakeholders before making any changes."