FAMILIES living in a New Forest village are demanding traffic calming measures following a spate of accidents near their homes.

Members of Eling Conservation Area Protection Society (ECAPS) are lobbying Totton and Eling Town Council as part of their campaign for safer streets.

ECAPS chairman Ian Buckett said residents wanted action to reduce the speed of traffic between St Mary's Church and Homeway Cottages.

He added: "There have been a number of accidents as a result of excess speed and innumerable near misses, many of which involved pedestrians."

Mr Buckett said ECAPS had written to the county council, which had suggested temporary traffic calming measures similar to ones on the Calmore estate in Totton.

"We were informed that they were both available and inexpensive," he said.

The issue was raised at a meeting of the town council's planning and transport advisory committee, which agreed that action needed to be taken.

Planning officer Roger Hill said the road through Eling included a bend and a steep hill. He added: "The problem is that it's a conservation area, which means local authorities have to be sensitive about what they do."

Councillors discussed the possibility of installing "Go Slow" signs and painting white lines along both sides of the road.

Edith Randall said: "I'd like to see white lining rather than Calmore-style concrete blocks, which could cause a danger by physically narrowing the highway."

Council chairman Robin Harrison said: "The sight lines on the bend are so poor that you wouldn't want to narrow the road. The psychological effect of white lining is probably the best answer."

George Dart, the committee chairman, said: "We support the principle of reducing traffic speed and will meet county council officers to discuss the problem."