ACTION is being taken to improve a notorious New Forest junction after two fatal crashes in the past 16 months.

Hampshire County Council is spending thousands of pounds to prevent more tragedies at a blackspot close to Totton.

Signing at the crossroads formed by Cooks Lane and Pauletts Lane has already been upgraded.

And parts of the carriageway are due to be given a coloured surface to encourage drivers approaching the junction to take extra care.

The safety scheme has delighted residents, who have been campaigning for improvements.

Checks carried out by the county revealed that five serious accidents had taken place at the junction in a three-year period.

These included two fatal crashes occurring 13 months apart.

County council official Kate Ball said: "Some drivers emerging from Pauletts Lane fail to give way to traffic coming along Cooks Lane. Signing improvements have taken place to make motorists aware of the junction."

The move was welcomed by Cooks Lane resident Julie Ray, who regularly goes to the aid of people injured in accidents outside her home. "People coming along Pauletts Lane often overshoot because they don't realise they've reached a set of crossroads until it's too late," said Mrs Ray.

Totton councillor Fiona Downer urged the county council to install the markings quickly. She said: "There was a nasty accident at the crossroads on Christmas Eve, so it's obvious the signs on their own don't do anything."