Protest at car crash death spot

Village residents are to demonstrate at the place where an elderly woman died in a road crash in County Durham.

Ellen Hendry, 81, was killed on Wednesday afternoon on the A690 near her home in Brancepeth village, when she was struck by a Suzuki Swift.

Just hours before her death, Brancepeth villagers had handed in a petition calling for the speed limit on the road to be cut from 40mph to 30mph.

Durham County County said a speed survey would be carried out.

Mrs Hendry, a mother of four and grandmother of three, was described by a family spokesperson as a "kind, gentle and generous person," who was loved by everyone in the village of Brancepeth.

Chairman of Brancepeth Community Association, Jim Merrington, said: "On Wednesday a petition with the 209 names of villagers demanding a 30mph limit was handed in to the council.

Gone unheeded

"It said that if something was not done someone would be killed - some six hours later an elderly resident was knocked down and died on the crossroads.

"The fight for a 30mph limit had gone unheeded for years and the final resort was the petition.

"Today residents will lay flowers in memory of Ellen Hendry, and protest."

Dave Wafer, Durham County Council's acting head of highway management, said: "As far as the petition is concerned, we shall be conducting traffic speed surveys on this stretch of the A690.

"We shall also be working with the police to establish whether any action may be necessary to address the concerns of local people.

"I would expect an outcome early in the new year."

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