Rat-running motorists are putting children's lives at risk, residents claimed today.

Retired fireman Geoff Wyness says drivers are using Apperley Road, Idle, Bradford, as a shortcut to avoid long queues at Greengates traffic lights.

But police dispute his claims and say plans to restrict parking on the road, will improve safety.

Mr Wyness and the Council's Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Jeanette Sunderland have urged the Council to redevelop the Greengates lights.

"There's accidents down here all the time with people having their cars bumped and wing mirrors smashed,'' said Mr Wyness, of Apperley Road. "There are children living down both sides of this road. How long will it be before a child gets run over? I can't blame motorists for using this as a short cut because of the horrendous queues on Harrogate Road.

"The critical problem is at Greengates traffic lights. The Council just doesn't want to pay to have them redeveloped properly. The Council wants people to use Apperley Road as a bypass."

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, (Lib Dem, Idle), said: "People are rat-running down there at speeds far in excess to what the road is designed for."

Mr Wyness fears police plans to stop parking before Milman Bridge at the bottom of Apperley Road will encourage motorists to speed further down the road and over the bridge, putting pedestrians on its narrow pavement in danger.

But Sergeant Brian Pickford, Eccleshill Division Road Traffic manager, said accident statistics did not bear out residents' claims and the likelihood of Apperley Road being closed to through traffic was remote.

He said the proposed yellow lines by Milman bridge would help make the road safer.

"Nobody has been killed or even injured on this road but there are roads across the Bradford district where there are accidents and this is where the Council has to spend its money," he said.

A Council highways spokesman said: "We are considering a number of traffic management measures for Apperley Road.

"A recent consultation revealed that some members of the public, who like to park near the canal, were against the introduction of yellow lines.

"These objections, along with other comments from residents will be taken into consideration when a decision is made about which improvements should be taken in that area."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.