WORRIED Worcester residents have backed calls for a rethink of traffic safety in the city centre, labelling it "an accident waiting to happen" for pedestrians.

Mum Sasha Bailey-Dean said she was stunned after spending a morning in the city to see the volume of vehicles driving on supposedly pedestrianised streets.

A February review of city centre safety saw 70 per cent of people suggest it should be less vehicle-friendly.

Mrs Bailey-Dean, aged 34, was so taken aback by the amount of traffic driving around city centre streets - including outside M&S in the High Street - between 10am and 11am that she felt compelled to take videos and photos of the lorries, 4x4s and vans on show.

She said the tragic death of Sylvia Russell, who died after being hit by a refuse truck in The Shambles in September, should lead to changes being brought in.

After canvassing the views of shoppers in the city centre, a widespread desire for change is clear.

Tim Hackett, aged 42, from Perdiswell, said: "I don't think there should be any vehicles from 9am to 5pm, as there are always people around during those times."

Evesham resident Paul Lawson, aged 32 called the current status quo "a nightmare" and "ridiculous".

Richard Toseland from St John's, said: "By 9am or 9.30am you've got people out and about so it's getting dangerous and they should stop them from 8.30am."

Presently, regulations prohibit vehicles from using pedestrianised city centre routes between 10.30am and 4.30pm, but there have been calls for restrictions to start earlier.

On Thursday your Worcester News spotted at least three vehicles on pedestrianised streets in the city centre at noon.

Mrs Bailey-Dean said: "The reason it bothered me so much was this is after the death of Sylvia.

"I saw so many children in a pedestrian area and obviously people were letting their children walk away a little bit then come back, as you do.

"But with all the cars around it's an accident waiting to happen."

She added: "I think it's probably a regular thing and it doesn't necessarily stop after 10.30am.

"There needs to be more focus on what people are doing.

"I can understand deliveries needing to get to shops and that they can't always be on time.

"How this gets done is down to traffic wardens, but I think they need stricter controls.

"People are out and about shopping from 9.30am so maybe there shouldn't be any deliveries after that - that's the common sense answer."

A survey sent out after the death of Miss Russell by Worcester's Labour parliamentary candidate Joy Squires asked householders if pedestrianised hours should be extended.

Of 224 respondents, 157 said they should, with more than half urging Worcester's pedestrianised areas to ban vehicles as early as 8am or 8.30am.

Ninety-eight people responded by saying they felt in danger in the city's pedestrianised areas.

The city council is still working with Worcestershire County Council to decide what, if any, changes can be brought in.

* Nathan Beauchamp, of Churchill Grove, Tewkesbury, has been charged with causing Miss Russell's death by careless/inconsiderate driving.

The 36-year-old has so far not entered a plea and will next appear at Worcester Crown Court on Monday, July 13.

Beauchamp was granted unconditional bail after appearing at Worcester Magistrates Court on March 23.