FEARS have been raised a child could be seriously injured or killed by motorists racing down a narrow Gorleston street.

Residents in Burnt Lane say drivers treat their quiet one way street, which regularly has cars parked on either side, as a racing track and some have even driven the wrong way up the road, ignoring no entry signs.

Now 100 of the disgruntled homeowners have signed a petition calling on Norfolk County Council to introduce safety improvements in their road, where children regularly play on weekday evenings after school.

Top of the list would be road humps forcing vehicles to slow down, though residents would also like to see improved signs including no entry signs at the junction with the Beccles Road roundabout to prevent vehicles going the wrong way.

Vehicles are only supposed to travel down from the Ferryside junction to the roundabout, but some have been coming the other way.

Stephanie Gallagher, 33, has lived in Burnt Lane for four years, but said when she first moved in traffic was not as bad as it was now.

She said: “It is quite bad, to be honest, because we have got cars coming down here both ways and they are not slowing down.”

She has four children, including sons Harry, 12 and Reece, nine, who regularly play in the street although the other two are too young at five-years-old.

She added: “I fear a child will soon be knocked over. More and more people are getting cars so things are getting more dangerous.”

Sandra Bell, 68, who has lived in nearby Manby Road for 32 years, said: “There are lots of young children and they have got to have somewhere to play. Often there are lots of them playing out at night, but it is very dangerous for them and the cars do come down here quickly.”

Barbara Foulger, 59, who has lived in Burnt Lane for eight years, said she feared for the safety of her 10-year-old granddaughter Ellie Brame when she came to visit.

“There should be more signs up saying it is one way only. There will be a bad accident one day especially if something’s coming up Burnt Lane the wrong way,” she said.

Another Burnt Lane resident John Cooper said speeding motorists coming down from the Ferryside junction had been a problem for 20 years because if no traffic was coming the other way, the temptation was to speed.

He said cars often screeched to a halt to avoid hitting children.

However, county council spokesman John Birchall said unless the road was known to be dangerous or there had been a history of accidents, it would not be prioritised for safety improvements.