THE death of a great-grandmother on a busy road has reignited calls for action to improve safety.

Wendy Helen Bolson, 79, of Caldbeck, passed away following a collision on the A595 near Wigton.

A police investigation into the cause of the tragedy - outside the Sun Inn pub at Red Dial on September 10 - is continuing.

While the circumstances of what happened in this case are not clear, locals say it is the third crash there this year and that - generally - motorists often don't drive to the conditions.

And they would like to see action to reduce the risk of further tragedies.

Mayor of Wigton, Elaine Lynch, said: "It is always busy. It has always been a road that has seen a lot of accidents.

"There are so many different types of hazards, there is dips round Moota, then there's straight bits.

"They actually put a bit in the middle for when people are turning into Moota, which makes it easier.

"But you have some people who don't drive as safely as they could and they over take in places where they shouldn't."

Despite the problems, Mrs Lynch believes safety on the road has improved.

"It is a road that actually, over the last few years, has got better.

"There are some tricky junctions, particularly the one at Red Dial on the hill, particularly in bad weather conditions."

The mayor issued a message to motorists, adding: "You need to drive carefully on this road. Make sure you drive safely for the road and the conditions.

"A lot of the time in the winter there is a lot of snow and slush, just always drive carefully on it, because it is a fast road."

Safety along the stretch of the A595 between Carlisle and Whitehaven has been a cause of debate for several years, with a series of calls to upgrade the road to dual carriageway, given the pressure of traffic on it.

Mrs Lynch has two suggestions for what can be done to make the road safer.

"Maybe they could put some lights in places, you don't have many. Speed cameras or lights at junctions, particularly on the first road to Carlisle, so people can see more clearly what is coming at night."

Julie Carruthers, 40, manager of The Sun Inn agrees there is a problem.

"It is a fast road", she said.

"There are a lot of accidents. Something should be done.

"Maybe speed cameras would be a good thing to have."

Despite not actually seeing the latest incident, she witnessed the aftermath.

Mrs Carruthers, who lives on site at the pub, said: "I got up to go to the toilet and looked out of my window and saw the ambulance and police, and I wondered what was going on."

Mrs Bolson was survived by her husband, five children, 15 grandchildren and a great grandchild.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, is asked to call PC James Motum on 101.