HUNDREDS of residents have signed a petition calling for action to make a Fordingbridge street safer.

The online petition, Make Salisbury Street, Fordingbridge, Safe, was started by resident Mike Harley and in just three days has been signed by 200 people.

On the change.org page, Mr Harley said: "In recent times, traffic and parking have become a major problem, particularly in Salisbury Street. Recent developments have added several homes with no parking, whilst access to shops and takeaways presents a further problem, especially in the evenings and overnight.

"Parking is currently restricted in some parts to the hours from 6pm to 8am, whilst in others it is restricted altogether by double yellow lines and zigzag markings at the crossing.

"Sadly, most evenings and overnight the road has vehicles parked, often on both sides creating a difficult chicane. Increasingly, parking violations are occurring in the day time as well. It is particularly dangerous for vehicles travelling south, who regularly have to overtake a long line of parked vehicles, whist unable to see approaching traffic from the roundabout. It is often difficult for the X3 services to get through and might present a real danger if the fire service were delayed on a callout."

The petition is calling for the implementation of 24 hour parking restrictions and the provision of a space for deliveries.

It was inspired after a picture of the road problems was posted on Fordingbridge - Our Town, a community Facebook group, with a plea that action needed to be taken.

Mr Harley said the situation is a "dreadful danger" and at times there can be a dozen cars parked along the road, which means drivers have got to get out into the road to pass them, people parking on the zigzag.

"There has been the awful case in Wareham where a young boy was killed on the zebra crossing in almost the situation we are replicating where we have people parking on zigzags , parking on the road, lorries travelling through and a zebra crossing all built in," he said.

"We are creating the perfect storm, it was sad it happened in Wareham I don't want it to be one of our children."

Speaking of the response, he said: "It is incredible that so many people feel so passionate about it."

Mr Harley hopes the petition will also help Fordingbridge Town Council lobby New Forest District for more to be done.

He added: "The safety element has to come first."

To sign the petition click here.