SCORES of Colchester residents, including mums with buggies and pushchairs, are demanding a safer footpath into their estate.

Residents on the Solus Estate, which was built about three years ago, say they are forced to walk in the busy Berechurch Hall Road because of the path to the junction with Berefield Way is so narrow.

The estate will be expanding further in future, forcing even more people on to the footpath to get to shops, schools and the post office in Mersea Road.

Dave Harris, Berechurch ward Colchester councillor, has handed in a petition with 154 signatures to Essex County Council highways officials.

He said: “This path is dangerous, with cars so close to young children in pushchairs. They are almost in the road. Quite a high proportion of mums walk down there. The problem is the path is not safe to serve a busy housing estate.

“We should be encouraging people to walk more, but this path does not do that.”

Michael Page, county council spokesman, said: “We are aware of this issue and are planning to carry out some maintenance work shortly to improve the condition of the pavements for pedestrians.”