A ZEBRA crossing in Worcester has been branded a “serious accident waiting to happen” by a concerned pedestrian – but the county council has ruled out installing traffic lights.

Tim Clarke, a public relations officer from St John’s, experienced a near-miss on Saturday evening (November 15) at the Croft Road crossing and has had a couple of other nerve-racking incidents at the spot this year.

He is calling for immediate action to improve the safety of the crossing for pedestrians and motorists alike.

Worcestershire County Council however has defended the set-up, stating it provides a “safe place” to cross and no accidents have been reported at the site.

Mr Clarke, who often uses the zebra crossing to visit The Hive, said: “Personally I think you take your life into your own hands when using that crossing.

“It is a serious accident waiting to happen and I certainly won’t risk taking my young daughter there.

“On Saturday I was clearly visible to the vehicle and stepped out, but the car didn’t see me. It swerved around me at the last second and I had to jump backwards.

“That part of Worcester is very busy and at times there can be a steady stream of people crossing.

“I’ve seen motorists get impatient because of this and when there has been a small gap they drive through quickly.

“I hope the county council will consider taking action now rather than waiting until someone is seriously injured.”

Mr Clarke added he believes traffic lights would make the crossing clearer and fairer for both motorists and pedestrians, and he is not alone in calling for changes to the site.

Readers of your Worcester News have been complaining about the zebra crossing for many months.

In October last year one website user, with the online name DEMRICS, wrote the Croft Road crossing “makes matters more dangerous for both pedestrians and drivers” and criticised the county council for “poor judgment”.

Last month another user Andy_R stated the crossing contributes to congestion in the city and frustration for motorists.

He commented: “Change the zebra crossing on Croft Road to a pelican crossing - if you're worried about the cost, just swap the poles over with the barely used pelican crossing on Castle Street which might as well be a zebra crossing.”

A spokeswoman for Worcestershire County Council said: "We are aware that the crossing on Croft Road is well used and provides a safe place to cross a busy road.

“Current usage suggests that changing the crossing for an alternative would not improve traffic flow significantly and the costs involved could not be justified at this time.

“We urge drivers to stop for pedestrians and will continue to monitor the situation."