Concerned residents say they do not feel safe crossing their street because of speeding motorists.

Tony Woolley is one of them. He said he often sees cars racing down Pilgrims Way, in Dartford, with some possibly reaching 50mph in the 30mph zone.

The retired 77-year-old added: "It is a dead straight road for quite some while.

"It is the speed of the traffic that I am concerned about. It can be hard to cross. There has also been a few accidents on that part.

"It is a worry as a lot of school children walk through the park and have to cross the road. It is really quite frightening, I feel for the children."

He has now signed a petition, launched by ward councillor Laura Edie (Green), calling on Kent County Council (KCC) to consider how it can improve the safety of the road.

The petition calls for a safe crossing point to be installed and the speed limit to be lowered.

Cllr Edie said: "Pilgrims Way is not only a residential road, but also houses a doctor's surgery, two entrances to Hesketh Park and the start of the footbridge to The Leigh Academy.

"Before and after school, hundreds of students use this road, having to dodge the traffic.

"During evenings and weekends, there is heavy footfall to the popular sports facilities in the park and to the nearby grounds of Dartford FC on match days.

"I have spoken to residents who advise that drivers often use this road as a cut-through, tending to speed along without consideration of the children and often vulnerable pedestrians crossing over.

"As it stands, crossing the road is dangerous for so many different people. At the moment it is a bit of a free-for-all.

"People are taking their lives into their own hands. I think something urgently needs to be done before someone gets hurt."

She said this was not a new issue but one that residents have been raising for a while following a few near-misses.

"It is frustrating," Cllr Edie added. "We want people to walk more and be more active but they do not feel safe doing so.

"People are being discouraged from using these alternatives to driving for getting around. They have a right to feel safe when crossing over this road."

A KCC spokesman said petitions submitted to the council are processed in accordance with its petition scheme. They added: "The safety of everyone that interacts with our roads is a top priority."

Local elections are taking place on Thursday, May 4.

Standing for election in the Newton Borough Ward is Laura Edie (Green Party), Debbie Graham (Labour Party), Julian Hood (Green Party), Andrew Mensah (Local Conservatives), Sheun Oke (Local Conservatives) and Jonathan Wynne (Labour Party).