A GROUP aiming to improve road safety in Heaton is stepping up its campaign by collecting data on speeding and reckless drivers and presenting the findings to Bradford Council.

Members of Heaton Township Association (HTA) has accompanied police with speed guns and designed posters for bus stops in Highgate and Toller Lane with the slogan 'No More Tragedies', encouraging motorists to be slow and safe.

The data is now being collated to go before a meeting of the Bradford West Area Committee in September, where the group will ask for extra funding for improved road markings, traffic islands, and vehicle-activated speed signs.

The campaign is being supported by officers from the Bradford West Neighbourhood Policing Team, local councillors and council wardens, and nearby schools.

Sonja McNally, chairman of the association, said residents had long-standing concerns over safety on roads such as Leylands Lane, Toller Lane, and Emm Lane, and had now held two public meetings to discuss the issue.

"We have spent months collecting the data," she said.

"The bus stop posters have had an impact, and we are hoping to put up some banners when the schools come back in September, warning drivers there are children in the area.

"People ask why we are flagging up speeding in the summer, but with the hotter weather, everyone seems to up their speeds by a couple of miles an hour.

"Then in Autumn, you get further problems with the darker nights coming in.

"It is vital we keep the momentum in the campaign, which we are pursuing for the good of everybody.

"If we can make drivers change their ways in Heaton, hopefully that good practice would extend to other areas of the city.

"Whether it's Leeds Road or anywhere in Bradford, we're all suffering from the accidents that are happening, and something needs to be done."

Councillor Mohammad Shabbir (Lab, Heaton) said he and his two fellow ward councillors - Councillor Mohammed Amran (Lab, Heaton) and Councillor Nussrat Mohammed (Lab, Heaton) - were in favour of further speed restrictions in the area.

He took part in a day of police action earlier this year, conducting the speed checks with local PCSOs and HTA members.

"There were cars coming down Emm Lane and braking very heavily heading towards the junction with North Park Road," he said.

"It is a risk, as there are cars parked on both sides of the road and it's a busy area for pedestrians.

"As councillors, we would support 20mph speed restrictions in residential areas and around local schools."

HTA started the campaign after an accident in December last year, in which an elderly pedestrian suffered serious injuries in a collision with a private hire vehicle on Leylands Lane.

The woman, 78-year-old Valerie Murphy, spent a lengthy time in hospital as a result of her injuries, and sadly died in March.

A 50-ear-old man is due to face trial at Calderdale Magistrates' Court in September accused of driving without due care and attention, but at the time of the incident, police said excessive speed was not seen as a contributing factor to the crash.