Buckden WI adapts Jerusalem for roundabout safety song

Members of a Cambridgeshire Women's Institute (WI) group have recorded a song to highlight their concerns about safety at a roundabout on the A1.

The Buckden group's song, to the tune of Jerusalem, has been put on YouTube and is a plea for better signs to warn drivers as they approach the village.

President, Patricia King, but said they wanted to do "something hilarious so people would take notice".

The Highways Agency said it already had plans to improve signage in the autumn.

The roundabout is close to entrances to villages including Buckden, Southoe and Diddington.

Currant buns

Mrs King said residents complained it was difficult and dangerous driving in and out because of the speed of traffic approaching the large roundabout.

"Ideally we would like a bypass," Mrs King said. "But meanwhile, we need safety measures such as speed cameras, and more notification to drivers that they need to slow down for the roundabout."

The group had asked for traffic lights, but was told the roundabout was not suitable and installation would be too costly, she said.

They recorded the song because they wanted to highlight a "serious subject in a humorous way", Mrs King said.

During the video, two members also stand up sporting little more than currant buns.

The Highways Agency said it was considering improvements to the road.

"Safety is our top priority and this autumn we will improve signage along the A1 between Buckden and Southoe," a spokesman said.

"We are currently awaiting a funding decision on a 60mph average speed camera scheme on the same stretch of road. We expect to have a decision by the end of May."