NEW calls for major improvements to be made to the A64 Scarborough to York road have been made by North Yorkshire East Coroner Michael Oakley.

Mr Oakley, who has been one of the leading voices in the campaign to upgrade the busy trunk road between West Yorkshire and Yorkshire Coast, was speaking at the inquest of a Leeds woman, who died when the car being driven by her husband hit a car and then crashed into a wall at Barton crossroads, between York and Malton.

He recorded a verdict of accidental death on Ethel Clark, 80, of Sandringham Crescent, Leeds, who died in the accident in June this year.

Mr Oakley said: "It is now urgent that something is done at this notorious crossroads".

He said it was the third fatal accident in as many years at the crossroads for Castle Howard and Howsham, and which crosses the dual carriageway just below Barton Hill.

Mr Oakley said improvements needed to be carried out as a matter of priority by the Highways Agency, because there had been some 19 accidents at the crossroads.

His concerns have been echoed by local councillors, The Freight Transport Association (FTA), and leaders of business and holiday enterprises in the Scarborough and Ryedale areas.

Transport Minister David Jamieson earlier this year carried out a fact-finding visit on the A64, and at a meeting with civic and business leaders afterwards ordered a detailed study to be made, with a report made by the end of this year, if possible, because of the road's bad accident record.

The FTA also said it was urgent that cash be spent on upgrading the road, which is one of North Yorkshire's key transport networks.

Updated: 10:31 Wednesday, November 24, 2004