Villagers have launched a petition calling for a zebra crossing following a fatal road accident.

Pedestrian Ada Fennell, 79, died after she was in collision with a car in Main Road, Eastburn, on Wednesday morning.

Residents have been campaigning for years for a crossing in Main Road near to the school.

Now a petition - the second to be launched as part of the campaign - has been distributed in the village.

It is supported by local parish council chairman and Bradford councillor David Emmott, who says a proposed zebra crossing is on a list of projects to be carried out by Bradford council but has not been implemented because of the cost. He told us: "The scheme - which apparently will cost £10,000 - was brought up at the last Area Panel (the Keighley arm of Bradford council) meeting but it was put to one side.

"A crossing is very badly needed. The main road through our village is a rat run - the level crossing gates at Cross Hills are down for about 40 minutes in every hour and a lot of motorists heading for Keighley come through Eastburn instead of using the Aire Valley trunk road."

Among those heading the campaign is Margaret Smith, who was a friend of Ada. She says: "This is a terrible tragedy. We have been asking for a crossing for a long time because a lot of young children have to cross the road there to get to the school. We feared someone would die. It is very very sad."

Tribute has been paid to Mrs Fennell, who lived in Eastburn and had been a lifelong member of the local methodist church. Minister the Rev Mollie Greenwood told the Keighley News: "Ada was a very active member of the church and her death has come as a great shock. She was a regular helper at the Tuesday coffee and fellowship morning, and - with her husband George - was very much involved with other church activities. She was also a member of the village Over-60s group. Ada and George didn't have any family and were devoted to each other."

Police are appealing for witnesses to Wednesday's accident, in which Mrs Fennell was involved in a collision with a Vauxhall Astra car heading towards Keighley. It happened at about 10.15am.

A Bradford council spokesman says: "We are very sorry to hear of this accident. We will liaise with the police to find out the exact circumstances of what happened. This is one of a number of sites in Eastburn which could be considered for a crossing should money become available."

Anyone with information should telephone PC Phil Jackson on 01535 617059.

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