ACT before there is another accident.

Those are the words of Romsey resident Julie Drake who has demanded highway bosses take urgent action after several accidents at and near the junction of Mitchells Close and Mountbatten Avenue.

Mrs Drake puts the blame on overgrown vegetation and hasstarted a petition calling on Hampshire highway bosses to do something before someone is seriously hurt.

So far more than 50 residents living in the area have signed the petition.

Mrs Drake said: “The hedge in Mountbatten Avenue is dangerous and needs cutting down to knee height.

“People can’t see because the hedge is so high. Lots of children play around here and you can’t see them very well when they cross the road. There have been load of accidents on the corner of Mountbatten Avenue and Mitchells Close.

“During the last three months we had a motor bike accident and a pedestrian was nearly knocked over crossing the road on the corner.

“There are two big bushes on the corner that need cutting right down to the ground because they are obstructing the vision of drivers.”

In a move to get things done quickly, a gang of residents led by Mrs Drake plan to carry out some DIY on Sunday, August 17.

They will arm themselves with secateurs and hedge clippers and trim back the offending vegetation which in-cludes brambles, syca-more saplings and thorn hedging.

Mrs Drake added: “The hedges have been really overgrown for years and nothing has been done about it. They trim the top but not the sides.”

Romsey Abbey ward borough and town councillor Ian Richards is backing Mrs Drake’s stance and he plans to help out on the community action day. Mr Richards said: “I understand the problem and have been in communication with Hampshire County Council and Test Valley Borough Council to see what can be done about it.

“Test Valley has agreed to carry out some safety work over the next few days on the corner of Mountbatten Avenue and Mitchells Close to allay people’s concerns. The future of the remaining shrubs will now be subject to discussions with HCC. All credit to Julie Drake.”

Hampshire’s cabinet spokes-person for the environment Sean Woodward promised action. Acknowledging that the hedges are owned by HCC and maintained by the borough council on its behalf, Mr Woodward said: “They are currently cut twice a year, in January and August. A second cut of these hedges is due any day.”