A WOMAN who was nearly knocked over on a Burnham zebra crossing fears it is only a matter of time until someone is hurt.

Residents claim the crossing, on Station Road, is a danger to road users and pedestrians alike.

They say faded lines which make it hard to see the zebra are making it an unsafe stretch of road.

Sally Hills-Jones, of Burnham, was almost knocked over on the crossing and believes that it would be safer to replace it with a pelican crossing.

She said: “Not for the first time this year I had a near escape on that cross- ing the other day.

“A vehicle stops to allow you to cross and then another vehicle over - takes whilst I am on the crossing.

"I have also stopped to allow someone to cross and been overtaken. This happened twice in ten days.

“I was so cross, I thought I needed to say something. Someone is going to get killed on that crossing soon. I don’t have a doubt.

“I want to see it become a pelican crossing. I think it is the only way you are going to slow drivers down. Unless they are made to stop it is going to keep happening.”

Celia Henson, of Southminster, is also worried about the safety of the crossing, but doesn’t think a pelican crossing will be installed.

She said: “If the town can’t get their school crossing after ten years at an estimated cost of £125,000 there is no chance of a pelican.

“I’m sure there are one or two ideas that could improve safety. Fresh white paint always helps.

“The white lines are pretty much gone and it’s a huge issue when it is foggy. This crossing has the most use and is used by a lot of elderly people and pushchairs.

“They come straight out of the post office/pharmacy doors onto the crossing to go to the doctors and car parks. As a driver, I have to be on my toes on this crossing.

“There are often cars parked on the single yellows who cause a bit of a problem. The parking all the way down is bad and could possibly do with warden presence for several consecutive days.”

A spokesman for Essex Highways said: “Re-marking this zebra crossing has been made a priority and we will re-paint it within the next fortnight, using longer-lasting paint.

“We would always encourage residents with safety concerns to contact their local Essex County Councillor, who can then raise them with the Maldon Local Highways Panel.”