COUNCILLORS have agreed to consider funding traffic calming measures on a Bradford street labelled "frightening" by concerned residents.

Organisers of a petition requesting that the Council takes action to improve safety on West Lane in Thornton put their case to members of the Bradford West Area Committee last night.

Their calls were supported by Councillor Richard Dunbar (Lab, Thornton and Allerton), who said he had seen cars travelling at up to 70mph down the residential street.

The petitioners said the number of vehicles that travelled at high speeds formed a "potentially lethal situation," highlighting the number of children who played in the area.

Monica Fennell, 57, who lives in West Lane, told the meeting: "You're standing there taking deep breaths worrying if you're safe.

"The problem is getting worse and the cars are getting faster and faster.

"It's really frightening, and people have been so happy to sign the petition to try and get something done."

A Bradford Council spokesman said a traffic survey was carried out between November 27 and December 5 last year, during which time the average speed was found to be 28mph.

Accident statistics for the most recent five-year period also indicated that there had not been any injuries on West Lane during that time.

Joseph DeAngelis, 55, who also lives on the street and helped co-ordinate the 48-signature petition, said: "The average speed says 28mph, but some cars must be travelling 60mph at some points.

"They really screech up and down there.

"It is only a matter of time before there is a casualty. Everyone is concerned, especially about the safety of the children, and something needs to be done before someone gets hurt."

Cllr Dunbar said the statistics should be calculated using the actual speeds motorists were travelling rather than averages.

"I've stood on the corner of the road and seen some cars doing 60 or 70mph," he said.

"There are lots of children and elderly residents in the street.

"It's the age-old question, do we have to wait until someone is killed before something is done?"

The Council spokesman said the highest actual speed recorded during the traffic survey was 41mph, adding that while resources had to be concentrated on areas with high casualty rates, it was the authority's aim to maintain traffic speeds of 20mph in residential areas.

Superintendent Damien Miller, of Bradford District Police, told the meeting he would speak to officers from the Bradford West Neighbourhood Policing Team to organise mobile speed checks to take place on the street.

The committee said its Safer Roads Budget had already been allocated for the current financial year, but members agreed they would consider funding the safety measures in 2016/17.