Council bosses are investigating whether improvements are needed on a stretch of road after two fatal crashes occurred within a fortnight of each other.

Residents near Braintree suggested pedestrian crossings, lower speed limits and a bypass could be installed after four people died in the space of nine days between High Garrett and Gosfield.

A motorcyclist, a man in his 40s, was killed last Thursday after he was involved in an accident with a teenage pedestrian and a blue Toyota Corolla just before 8am.

The accident happened only a mile from the spot where three men were killed by a two-car crash at Gosfield on December 7.

Residents living on the A131 have described it as an “accident blackspot”.

Retired Dennis Woodley, 82, claimed he had tried to campaign for the speed limit to be lowered from 40mph to 30mph but his calls were left unheeded by Essex Police and Essex County Council.

He said: “It is common sense and practicality that this road should be 30mph as it has had more than its fair share of accidents, it’s an accident blackspot.

“There’s no question that the road needs to change to stop these accidents."

See this week's Braintree Times for the full story.