VALE of York MP Anne McIntosh has backed calls for safety improvements on the A19.

The road has claimed two lives within a week and Selby MP John Grogan yesterday called for work to improve safety on the stretch south of York.

Miss McIntosh said she had campaigned for roundabouts to be built on some sections of the road.

She said: "One campaign saw the roundabout built at the southern end of Easingwold and an immediate improvement in the safety record was seen."

Residents of A19 villages Thormanby and Shipton-by-Beningbrough have regularly campaigned for safety improvements.

Thormanby residents branded the hill through their village "death hill" and built two seven-foot high coffins at the edge of their village, pleading drivers to slow down.

Miss McIntosh added: "I always welcome safety improvements and would be glad to see them wherever they were implemented.

"But there must also be co-operation from drivers. You cannot legislate for driver behaviour, they need to be vigilant and drive according to weather conditions."

Clifford Smith, chairman of Shipton-by-Beningbrough Parish Council, said: "Safety on the A19 needs looking at: it is a common sense thing and safety improvements are needed on that road."

Nine days ago, 75-year-old Joseph Drury died in a car crash on the A19 near Tollerton. On Thursday, 20-year-old James Parker, of Wigginton, York, died in a crash on the A19, near Escrick. At least nine other motorists have lost their lives on the A19 in the last three years.

No one from the Highways Agency was available for comment.

Updated: 09:48 Saturday, May 24, 2003