A CHIDDINGFOLD resident has described the road where a local father of three young children died last week as being "like Silverstone race track".

Jayne Young lives in a cottage near the Winterton Arms on the main A283 Petworth Road, close to where the accident happened. She has now enlisted the help of local MP Virgina Bottomley in a call for more safety measures in the village following last week's tragic accident.

Darren Knott (32), who was brought up in Chiddingfold and lived in Hambledon, died after the Vauxhall Cavalier he was driving collided with a Ford Ranger pick-up truck.

In her letter to Mrs Bottomley, Mrs Young whose husband Gary runs the local butcher's shop, said: "During the last few years, there have been too many accidents and deaths along this road. We wonder how many more deaths it will take for things to change."

She demanded that "instead of painting pathetic red lines along the road", which is the method currently used to slow the traffic down at both ends of the village, speed cameras and sleeping policemen should be installed.

Mrs Young, who has lived in the village for many years and in her present home for two years, said she was worried about her sons aged seven and nine.

"They are well trained but unfortunately have to be my 'eyes' when I back out of the drive."

She said she had seen countless accidents, some of which have been fatal, both sides of the village, north at the brow of the hill where the 30 miles per hour speed restriction starts and through the village past the sharp left hand turn at Chiddingfold's historic Crown public house.

Last week residents told The Herald that cars and heavy lorries often went through the village at speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour.

Mrs Bottomley said: Many will agree that further measures need to be taken to prevent such a dreadful tragedy happening again.

The MP has now written to the chief executive of Surrey County Council and the Chief Constable of Surrey police asking for their "urgent assistance".

"I will be working with the residents of Chiddingfold to make sure their concerns are upheld," said Mrs Bottomley.