Villagers are calling for a lower speed limit on a winding road in Headbourne Worthy, near Winchester, where a pensioner died four months ago.

At the moment, it's 40mph in Well House Lane, with advisory 30mph signs ahead of a series of tight bends where 60-year-old Anna Stilwell died in a collision with a car on September 17th.

Now 468 residents have signed a petition calling for the lane to be made safer and a 30mph limit imposed along its entire length.

"Something needs to be done," said Margaret Filley, the village's Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator, who organised the petition.

Since the accident, an anti-skid surface has been applied - in line with the recommendations of the Casualty Reduction Partnership, which includes representatives of Hampshire County Council and the police.

Mrs Filley believes that if the work had been done earlier, the collision that claimed Mrs Stilwell's life might have been prevented.

"I'm sure that the road surface was very much part of what happened that day," she added.

Residents say they want the speed limit brought down to 30 because the lane is well-used as a short cut to the A34.

Mrs Filley said she felt "quietly optimistic".

"I think people are listening to us,"she added.

Before the county council can authorise any change to the speed limit, it has to seek the approval of the police and conduct a detailed study.

A council spokesman said the petition would be taken into account when reaching a decision.