CALLS have been made for traffic safety measures on a road where a man suffered life-threatening injuries when he crashed in to a tree.

Residents have called for something to be done after the crash on Southfield Drive, Westhoughton, in the early hours of Monday morning.

They have said that the 20mph road was an 'accident waiting to happen' with motorists speeding up and down it at all times of day.

Bolton Council said it would look at whether any further action can be taken.

Joanne Welsby, 39, who lives on Southfield Drive, said: "It has been an accident waiting to happen. The speed that people go at down this street, it is sickening."

Mrs Welsby rushed out of her home on Monday night after her house shook because of how hard the car hit the tree.

She lives directly behind where the crash and said that it was lucky the tree was there or the car would have ended up in the front of her house.

Another resident, who did not wished to be named, said that she has written to the council previously calling for road safety measures.

She said: "It's a serious problem, I've asked several times for something to be done. The consensus from the council was as there has not been a fatality, there's no need for restrictions or traffic calming.

"It's during the day as well as in the evenings. It is lucky this one happened at night, it would probably have injured someone during the day."

She added that the problem is even worse during the day as there are less cars parked alone the street so motorists can go even quicker.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: “Road safety is a priority for the council and the number of road deaths and accidents have continued to reduce in the last few years, which shows things are improving. We will study the report on this accident and look whether any further action can be taken.”

The 39-year-old driver of the car suffered multiple fractures to his left leg, pelvis, ribs and jaw in the crash.

He also suffered internal bleeding which was deemed to be potentially life-threatening on Monday.

The driver is now in a stable condition in hospital.

A 43-year-old male passenger suffered a broken wrist in the crash.