A DISABLED pensioner has said speeding motorists have left him living in fear.

Alan Sumner, 65, relies on a wheelchair to get around, and said he fears crossing Lammack Road, Blackburn, due to drivers ‘flying down’ the stretch.

He claims cars have reached speeds of up to 70mph down the road and that he has nearly been knocked over before because of it.

Mr Sumner, who has lost both his arms and one leg, said: “You’ve got cars speeding down the road throughout the day.

“They’re flying down at speeds of up to 70mph.

“I’m disabled and I’m trying to cross the road in a wheelchair and it scares me due to the cars speeding.

“I’ve nearly been hit once before.

Along with other residents, Mr Sumner, wants to see Blackburn with Darwen Council install some traffic calming measures down the road.

Residents have called for speed bumps or a speed camera but say their calls have been met with deaf ears.

They are also worried about the extra traffic from a planned new housing development on The Old Blackburnians Memorial Ground off Lammack Road.

Tommy Temperley, 57, who also lives on Lammack Road, agreed, and said that motorists were using the road as a ‘rat run’.

He said: “Speeding has been a problem for years.

“You get people in fancy cars such as Mercedes and BMWs driving at high speeds and using the road as a rat run to Blackburn town centre.

“The road is straight and there are no traffic calming measures there and we need some.

“We’ve got a primary school on the road too and there’s children crossing the road and I fear someone could get hit.”

Steve Catterall, from Wilpshire, who is a friend of Mr Sumner’s, added: “I’m disappointed that the council have not taken the time to come and look at Alan’s situation, especially with him being disabled.

“Speeding is a problem and there needs to be some traffic calming measures especially with a planned new housing on The Old Blackburnians Memorial Ground, which will only increase the volume of traffic in the area.”

A council spokesman said: “The planners are aware of the current traffic issues in the area and will be working with the developers to make sure that this new junction (where the site will exit onto Lammack Road) is safe.”