ANGRY residents, whose homes line what they call a dangerous rat-run, today called for urgent action before someone is killed.Householders in Rands Way and Gorse Road in Ipswich, are petitioning for a 20 mph limit and speed bumps to slow down the traffic in a road which has junctions obscured by trees and parked cars.

ANGRY residents, whose homes line what they call a dangerous rat-run, today called for urgent action before someone is killed.

Householders in Rands Way and Gorse Road in Ipswich, are petitioning for a 20 mph limit and speed bumps to slow down the traffic in a road which has junctions obscured by trees and parked cars.

Rands Way has a history of crashes, but fears escalated and pleas for action increased after an accident involving a bus and a car two weeks ago.

Five people were taken to hospital in that accident.

Robert Francis, 52, a petition organiser and a Rands Way resident for 30 years, said: "We are fed up of the accidents and nobody taking any action.

"Fortunately no one was seriously hurt in this latest accident but we are not prepared to wait until there has been several fatalities.

"Do we have to wait until a mother, a child or an older person or anyone else for that matter gets killed?"

Mr Francis has been battling for action for 11 years, after a car ploughed through his reinforced fence post, down his front drive and hit a neighbour's garden wall.

"People think they can go as fast as they like because it is a straight road," said Mr Francis.

"It's like Grand Prix. The other day a motorbike was doing a wheelie down the road."

In January last year a child was injured in Rands Way.

Mr Francis called for a one-way system in Gorse Road, with entry from Rands Way because trees and parked cars obscure visibility.

So far, 89 people have signed the petition which has been handed to representatives from Ipswich Borough and Suffolk County Council.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: "You only have to watch for five minutes and you see some idiot speeding. The noise frightens my wife even inside the house."

Previous requests to the council have been unsuccessful. Because the road is on a bus route the council claim that sleeping policemen cannot be used.

But the residents cited examples in Felixstowe and other areas of Ipswich, such as in Bramford Lane and Maidenhall Approach where buses manage to negotiate them.

Russell Tunbrige, 67, of Serpentine Road, said: "Speed bumps would solve the problem.

"Over the last fortnight the Star has reported on two major accidents and there are other minor ones that don't get reported."

Ipswich Borough Council confirmed they had received the petition.

A spokesperson said: "The accident investigation team will look at Rands Way and see if there are any actions that can be taken to improve safety in the area.

"Speed bumps have been put in roads on other bus routes but cases need to be looked at individually."