A spot dubbed 'suicide junction' is to get safety improvements after warnings that someone could die if action was not taken.

The junction, which links Moor Lane, Station Road, Prospect Road, Station Approach and Southfield Road has been highlighted as a danger spot in the village of Burley-in-Wharfedale.

But now the situation is set to be improved after councillors approved new safety markings for the corner of Southfield Road and Station Road.

Councillors hope the addition of double yellow lines will decrease the risk of accidents at the busy junction, which often has the potentially lethal cocktail of speeding traffic, school buses and pedestrians crossing to get to the station.

The new safety measures were approved at a meeting of the Ship-ley Area Committee on Thursday.

Wharfedale councillor Matt Palmer, who has led the calls for safety measures at the junction, said the yellow lines would improve safety where currently it is often impossible to see.

He said part of the problem at the junction was caused by parked cars obstructing vision, but the new measures would make it easier for cars turning in and out of Southfield Road.

Coun Palmer stressed: "It should make it considerably safer for people trying to turn in and out of that road, and considerably safer for pedestrians, especially children.

The junction, next to Burley station, has been a cause of concern among local people, who believed it posed a serious risk to safety.

In calling for improvements last year, Coun Palmer said at busy times a combination of heavy commuter traffic and cars speeding down from the moor made crossing the junction almost suicidal.

He said local people were so concerned that they had even dubbed it "suicide junction."

He said the potential dangers were exacerbated by the fact that the markings had become increasingly faded, to the point where the public practically ignored them.

As well as agreeing to the yellow lines, councillors approved a package of measures to reduce speeding around the village.

The Shipley Area Committee agreed to officers' recommendations for 20 mile per hour speed limits on Langford Lane, near Burley Oaks Primary School, and on Station Road.

Proposals to build a footway on Station Road, between Hanover Way and Langford Lane, will also be investigated.

The measures are the culmination of a public consultation exercise in the village with more than 120 letters and questionnaires being sent out to the properties felt to be most directly affected.

The proposed measures were also presented to the Burley-in-Wharfedale Neighbourhood Forum in October last year.

The restrictions, which will also include traffic calming on Station Road, have been made possible after the Shipley Area Committee approved funding of £20,000 last year for the introduction of a Safer Routes to School Scheme.

The scheme also includes waiting restrictions to control parking near the school.

Some local people wanted to see a zebra crossing on Station Road, at its junction with Langford Lane, but members heard this would be little used outside of school times and would not lead to a general reduction in speed along Station Road.

Members heard there was not enough money in the budget to provide a zebra crossing, traffic calming and speed limits.

But they were told traffic speeds could be controlled along a significant length of Station Road with speed limits and traffic calming measures, making the road easier to cross at any point.