CARS racing through the Hanley Road car park as a short cut into Upton will soon be stopped by new alligator teeth' traffic barriers.

Malvern Hills District Council is working to install the barriers "as soon as possible" to stop cars leaving the car park into the narrow New Street lane.

Upton town councillor Eric White believes the barriers must be installed before a serious accident happens.

"Cars come out of there very quickly and just shoot up the road," he said. "Someone came out of there very quickly the other day, almost hit the car in front and was swerving all over the road.

"With the barriers there they cannot come out that way, which makes the area much safer." MHDC street scene manager Gordon Morris said that the council had installed new traffic flow plates earlier this year to replace a set that had been damaged by vandals.

However, these were found to be ineffective at stopping 4X4 and front-wheel drive vehicles from leaving the car park in that direction and were subsequently removed.

"Visibility is an issue and it's dangerous for vehicles to use the car park as a rat run and go out of that exit," he said.

"We're looking to replace the plates with something more substantial, that would actually damage the tyres of any vehicle that did try to go over them."

Mr Morris said installing the new alligator teeth' plates was a priority, adding that he was confident they would solve the problem.

"Looking at pictures of them, I would not go anywhere near them in my car, so they should do the job," he said.