CAMPAIGNERS who took a 1,000-strong petition to Dorset County Council asking for a crossing in Southill have spoken of their horror at the accident that claimed the life of a young girl.

They have renewed calls for the authority to install a crossing or cut the speed limit on the road.

Lily-Mae Jeffries was trying to cross Weymouth Way with her two sisters, aged six and ten and her 72-year-old grandmother on Sunday afternoon, when two motorbikes were involved in a collision with the group between Chafey’s Roundabout and the Swannery Bridge junction.

Tragically the youngster died from her injuries on Monday, while her grandmother, who is from Weymouth, remains in a critical condition in Southampton General Hospital.

Campaigners had been calling for a crossing at Chafey’s Roundabout, close to the site of the accident, and the petition with more than 1,000 signatures was recently presented to the county council.

The crossing is now under review.

Although the crossing is around 100 yards from the accident scene campaigners believe people from the Goldcroft Road and Pottery Lane areas would all walk to a safer Chafey’s Roundabout to cross the road as well as people heading to town from Southill.

Campaigners expressed their horror at the incident.

Alex Moran, of Hornbeam Close, Southill said: “This is a disaster and my heart goes out to the family. We have been campaigning about this for a long time now.

“I am very sad and I want to pass on my sympathy to those involved.”

Ian White, of Faversham, Southill, said: “Do we need a 50mph road between houses and an RSPB reserve? The government says that 50mph will kill children.

“I said in a recent interview that someone someday would be hurt on this road.”

Ryan Hope, from Westham Community Group, said that Dorset County Council should now bring forward its decision and give the people of Southill and Westham a safer crossing.

He said: “They need to listen to the residents.”

Mr Hope sent his thoughts and sympathies to the family.

County councillor Les Ames said that something had to be done.

He said: “It seems to me that the speed limits are too high for a place where pedestrians cross.

“You cannot stop immediately when you are travelling at 50mph.

“We have got to do something about this, but with respect to the cost and design, I just don’t know what.

“We are in a severe state of finance at the moment so where do we get the funding?

“This incident involved an elderly woman and three small children.

“I can’t think of a worse situation.”

County councillor Howard Legg, who attended the petition meeting, said that the petition had been discussed and the county council has promised to review it.

He said: “It is under review but I think this incident will hasten that a bit.”