Safety pledge over dangerous crossroads

Four people were taken to hospital by West Midlands Ambulance Service after a crash on the road earlier this month

Urgent safety measures at a "dangerous" crossroads which has seen frequent crashes will be brought in, a highways chief pledged.

Residents have called for changes at the A521 junction with Draycott Cross Road outside the Huntsman pub in Cheadle, Staffordshire.

Pub landlord Conor Bernard Devine began chalking up the days between crashes on an A-board after one happened about every two weeks.

Mark Deaville, cabinet member for strategic highways at the county council, said it would put in warning signs on approach roads and the A521, and markings telling drivers to go "slow".

He added he was "massively relieved" no-one had been seriously hurt in the collisions, but believed changes needed to happen with "great urgency".

Advanced warning signs will be put on Dilhorne Lane and Brookhouse Lane and a new one on the A52.

"I do travel this route on a regular basis and I can understand that a driver who may be unfamiliar with our area may think that road goes straight on as both junctions are absolutely in line," he said.

The area had become busier with more tourists, people travelling to Alton Towers and more HGVs, he added.

The community could help by removing some advertising signs which were possibly adding to the confusion at the junction, he added.

Mr Devine said the problem was often talked about and that the signs would "hopefully" make a difference and "might be all it needs".