CALLS are being made for people to slow down driving through a village and for a ‘useless’ speed camera to be moved after the latest in a long line of crashes.

Concerns have been raised over motorists speeding along Blackburn Road in Egerton, damaging vehicles and putting lives at risk.

At the weekend a car burst into flames outside the houses opposite the Bistro 341 restaurant after it crashed into a wall.

Euan Taylor, lives in the row of houses, and while there is a speed camera near Egerton United Reformed Church, he wants it moved up the road just past the Cross Guns Inn, so that cars coming from the direction of Darwen have to slow down.

He would also like a camera in a similar position for cars going out of the village.

Mr Taylor, said: “Over the years there has been fatal crashes there. If you go back to 2009 there was two fatal crashes and people have been seriously injured.

“When you are coming in from Darwen, it is 40mph but people are going at 60,70 and 80 and there is then the chicane there and that is what causes the crashes. We have had one van written off and another one seriously damaged.”

The weekend's crash also damaged safety railings near the entrance for Egerton Primary School.

Mr Taylor said: "The crashes are usually at night but if it was during the day there would be children there.

"To get a couple of speed cameras is not going to cost that much."

The 42 year old and other residents will be raising their concerns at Bromley Cross Area Forum on Wednesday.

He said: "Sometimes at night you can hear them going past at speed. I know it is a main road but we want people to just slow down when they are coming through here."

A Bolton Council spokesman said: “We understand the community’s concerns and our officers have spoken with Greater Manchester Police regarding this incident.

“The location of speed cameras is decided by Transport for Greater Manchester and Greater Manchester Police. Enforcing of speeding is a police matter and we would urge motorists to drive responsibly.”