A Shipley trader has joined the call for action to stop lorry drivers putting lives at risk by speeding through a residential estate.

Elizabeth Hudson, owner of the Sandwich Bar in Leeds Road, says that it's only a matter of time before someone is killed by the lorries, which speed along Festival Avenue and Owlet Road to bypass Shipley's Valley Road bridge. A 7.5 tonne weight restriction was imposed there earlier this year.

She said: "These articulated lorries are having to mount the pavement outside my shop, which is highly dangerous. They're using Festival Avenue as a rat run and it's only a matter of time before someone gets seriously injured or killed by the lorries.

"The noise coming from the vehicles make my windows shake and I have to push things back onto the shelves after they've been past.

"My life's at risk when I'm sat in my own shop, as well as other people's who are passing by. The whole thing's ludicrous."

Mrs Hudson's fears echo those of Councillor Phil Thornton (Lab, Shipley East) who last week issued a plea to the lorry drivers to follow diversion signs put up by Bradford Council to take heavy vehicles travelling from Bradford to Shipley along Manningham Lane.

He said: "Some heavy vehicles are going along Festival Avenue and Owlet Road to cut out the diversion but it's a residential area with a lot of children living locally and the roads are totally unsuitable for that size of vehicle.

"We've got to get people to follow the diversion rather than rat-running through estates like this. A lot of children walk to school in this area and of they're having to cross the road faced by speeding articulated lorries, I'm concerned there's a potential for accidents and injuries."

Eccleshill traffic manager Sergeant Brian Pickford said that any specific complaints would be investigated and has warned that heavy goods vehicles should not be travelling through residential areas.

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