The efforts of more than 1,000 Bridgwater Mercury readers have been acknowledged, with the announcement that new safety measures are to be introduced on a treacherous stretch of road which claimed two lives in two days last summer.

The Mercury launched a road safety campaign entitled How Many More? after two men were killed on Westonzoyland Road, and a third seriously injured, all within 48 hours.

Victory edition

More than 1,100 people signed the petition calling for new safety measures to prevent further tragedies.

And now the call has been answered, as Somerset County Council has announced it is just weeks away from releasing a final version of plans to make the A372 safer.

The news follows the success of another campaign by the Mercury, Road to Safety, which called for safety measures to be introduced on the A38 in North Petherton. Road chiefs have now agreed to carry out a feasibility study for a new pedestrian crossing.

Campaign edition

Mercury news editor Simon Angear said: “This is our second road safety campaign success in recent weeks.

“Once again our readers have got behind us and proved that local newspapers really can make a difference.”