CALLS are being made for warning signs after a female deer was hit by a car on a Bolton road.

The animal had to be put down after the incident on Lostock Lane and councillors and residents are now asking for signs in the area to prevent further accidents.

But Bolton Council says it would not be practical to put up signs because deer being spotted on the road is a regular occurrence. Government advice warns against putting up too many signs, as it is claimed they would clutter the roads and possibly confuse motorists.

Rebecca Pugh was driving down Lostock Lane, which connects Westhoughton with De Havilland Way and Chorley New Road, at about 4.30pm on January 14, and saw the aftermath of the incident.

She pulled over and managed to pick up the doe, thought to be aged two or three, and moved it to safety at the side of the road.

Miss Pugh said: "I didn’t know whether she was alive or dead at this point, but then I saw her moving her head and trying to get up but her body just wasn’t cooperating.

"I asked a lady in the car behind me to help and I managed to pick the doe up and move her over to the embankment on the side and waved the traffic to carry on."

Miss Pugh, aged 22, a student teacher from Wigan, remained by the animal's side in a bid to comfort it. She said: "I sat down next her and stroked her when a man came walking down the road and said that he had hit her. He said she just ran out from nowhere.

"I have got pets but I haven't experienced anything like that before. I love animals so I had to go and help."

After about an hour the RSPCA arrived and the animal was taken to Greater Manchester Animal Hospital, but the injuries to its legs were too severe and vets said it would have to be put down.

After hearing about the incident, Westhoughton town councillor Ryan Battersby asked Bolton Council to look into the possibility of installing a warning sign.

He said: "I have contacted the highways department at the council requesting that warning signs are placed on Lostock Lane to raise awareness of deer in this area, so that something positive might come from this unfortunate event.

"There have been numerous sightings of deer in this and other areas across Westhoughton and surrounding areas, but this is the first time to my knowledge that a deer has been hit by a car and had to be put to sleep.

"Hopefully signage will raise awareness with drivers and help to protect these lovely animals."

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "Wildlife such as deer are spotted regularly — they tend to roam across farmland and parks and it would not be sensible or practical to erect warning signs just in case they wander across the road.

"Also due to the frequency of sightings there would be no 'warning' impact if we put up signs every time deer were spotted."