Concerns have been raised about a junction in Leek where there have been a number of collisions.

Residents say the roundabout near the Morrisons supermarket, which connects the A53 with Burton Street and Junction Road, needs addressing due to people not giving way.

Sandra Clark, 77, lives nearby and says she saw a woman injured at the junction.

She said: "There was a lady with a little child, and she was crossing, and a car mustn't have realised they had to stop.

"She pushed the child out of the way but then the car hit her – and she fell on the pavement. I think she got a broken leg."

Mrs Clark added: "It's a terrible roundabout this is, and you can understand why there's a lot of accidents."

"It does need something doing something about it.

"I think a lot of the cases is when people don't realise who's got right of way and they're very tentative as to whether to draw out.

"I think this is what causes the accidents, people not realising who's got right of way."

Andy Bedwell, 52, doesn't live in Leek but is familiar with the area and often has to navigate the junction.

He said: "Most of the close calls I've had are from people not looking or not indicating, and not being aware of other cars on the road.

"Signage might help, but for regular people driving it they know it's here.

"I would say the majority of people driving past here are regular and know it's a roundabout.

"So, signage may help – and rumble strips to wake people up a bit.

"I've seen the aftermath of accidents, and a couple of cars coming round the corner too fast.

"A lot of it is driver skill, and education."

Cllr Charlotte Atkins said she is taking the issue up with county council highways officers, and has asked them to look into what can be done.

She said: "I'm taking it up with the county council because this is not something new – people living down Junction Road have had their car written off. 

"It's partly speed I think – and I think one of the possibilities might be to introduce the lines across the road which give a bouncy feel before you get to the roundabout – so people know the roundabout is there and they reduce their speed.

"It's happened too often now."

She said yellow lines that cause a vibration approaching the roundabout may help – because they'll make people more aware they're approaching a roundabout.

She said: "I think people don't understand sometimes that the highway code says you give way to the right.

"It's almost like the French situation, where many years ago it was sort of like a general free for all and it wasn't clear who was giving way to what! It was chaos!"

She explained that each county councillor gets a highways budget of £7,000 but Cllr Atkins has spent hers.

She said, however, the issue is too serious for highways to ignore.

"I will argue this is something that is a safety issue. The police were called, so there will be police statistics demonstrating this is a hotspot for accidents.

"I'm pleased not many people have been seriously hurt, but we did have an ambulance at the scene at the last one.

"And I have been alerted by people living on Junction Road what happened so that's why I'm taking it up with the county council."

Staffordshire County Council said it would see what measures could be adopted, whilst urging drivers to take care.

Cllr David Williams, cabinet member for highways, said: "Keeping our roads safe is our priority and our roads continue to be amongst the safest in the country.

"Cllr Atkins has made us aware of road safety concerns at this location.

"These will be considered alongside other local priorities to determine if changes to the road layout are required.

"We all have a responsibility to drive with due care and attention and I would ask people to do what they can to help keep our roads safe."