RESIDENTS have called for drastic action to slow down traffic on Lower Burnham Road.

The calls come following the latest crash which saw two people injured after a car overturned in a ditch.

It is just the latest in a spate of accidents on the road, which residents blame on speeding motorists.

There is no evidence speed was the cause of the latest crash, however, residents are demanding action be taken to slow traffic down.

One resident said she was unable to put into words how bad the situation had become.

She said: “It is all due to speed. Somebody was flipped upside down in a ditch. It is absolutely dreadful.

“The limit here is 50mph at the moment, but they come along here far in excess of that.

“The road is not fit for purpose. It was a county lane that is now having to act as the main road into Burnham.

“It is used by big lorries and fast cars, but nothing has been done to upgrade the road since we came here 50 years ago.

“They need to lower the speed limit and put some speed cameras on this road as soon as possible. It is unbelievable how dangerous it is becoming.

“Unless they solve the traffic problems down here, I’m scared to think of how bad it is going to get. But the sound of that accident and the sight of the car on its roof was frightening.”

The incident happened shortly before 3.30pm on Wednesday, June 21.

A spokesman for the ambulance service said: “We were called to this collision to a report of a car that had overturned.

“A rapid response vehicle, ambulance crew, ambulance officer, Hazardous Area Response Team and air ambulance were dispatched to a report of two patients.

“A passenger was trapped and was treated at the scene and airlifted to St George’s Hospital for further care.

“A second patient was taken to Broomfield Hospital.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “A Ford Fiesta had left the road and overturned in Lower Burnham Road, Althorne.

“Two people were trapped inside. Emergency services remained at the scene until it was made safe.”

A spokesman for Essex Highways said: “The best way for residents to take this issue forward is to contact their councillor to ask the Maldon Local Highways Panel to look into it.

“It may be that they consider funding a speed survey to understand driver behaviour on the road as a first step.”