SAFETY measures on a fast and dangerous road near Winchester are to be introduced by the county council.

Villagers in South Wonston have been calling for improvements to the junction of Downs Road with the old A34 at Christmas Hill.

Their pressure was stepped up when parish council plans for a new burial ground near Christmas Hill were rejected last year by the city and county councils because of the dangerous road.

The parish council said if the road was that hazardous then the council should do something about it.

There have been two serious road traffic incidents there in the past year.

County councillor Ann Bailey said: "This stretch has a bad accident record. It does worry me. It is a very popular horse-riding area and you have a green lane crossing that road."

The parish council wants the speed limit cut to 50 miles per hour. The county council is not keen because the police say they find it difficult to enforce that limit on such a short stretch.

A meeting was held at the junction recently and the county has proposed safety improvements which are designed to calm the traffic.

It wants to resurface the road from Connaught Road, Worthy Down, to the north of South Wonston and paint yellow hatching on the carriageway.