A regional daily is fighting to get a road with an “appalling” safety record turned into a dual carriageway.

The Shropshire Star is calling on the government to double the width of the A5 between Shrewsbury and towns over the Welsh border.

The Star believes the road is inadequate to carry the volume of vehicles that travel along the route every day, damaging lives and businesses.

The campaign, which has been backed by North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson, was launched on Monday’s front page.

Editor Martin Wright said: “The A5 between Shrewsbury and Ruabon is simply not capable of coping with the number of vehicles that use it every day.

“That stretch of road has cost the lives of far too many people, while countless others have been injured, and it is high time the government did something to address the problem.

“In addition to its appalling safety record, the constant hold-ups on the road are adversely affecting the area’s economy and I am sure businesses think twice about investing in our county because of the poor road network.

“In just two days, we have had more than 2,000 sign our petition which demonstrates the strength of feeling on the issue. We hope that roads minister John Hayes listens to our request to include the project in the Road Investment Strategy 2 so that it is upgraded to a dual carriageway for its entire length.”