People living in a stretch of road where a ‘drive carefully’ sign was destroyed by a crash say they fear it is only a matter of time before someone is killed.

Speeding drivers and icy roads caused by a burst water main have contributed to regular accidents in Middle Street, Nazeing.

In the most recent incident man had to be cut free from a car after it skidded on ice on February 22.

An ambulance response vehicle attending the scene then crashed after also losing control.

It follows a number of crashes on the stretch of road and people living nearby are calling for action before tragedy strikes.

Bob Bray, 70, said ice is a problem, but the road lay-out, a lack of signage and poor police response times are making things worse.

He said: “We have so many accidents here.

“The bend is so dangerous that I am surprised we have not had a fatality.

“We seem to be like the lost village here.

“We had a pair of gates at the entrances to the village - signs that say please drive carefully’.

“One of the signs was destroyed in an accident in November and it is still broken in my back yard.”

A car crashed through a hedge at the front of Sue Roback’s house in December.

The 63-year-old said: “Pedestrians going down that side of the road are completely blocked by the trees and they have to go on to the road at the crash site.

“That could be a disaster. They are completely blocking the verge.

“It is just so dangerous, it could be terrible.”

Dianne Jocelyn said drivers regularly speed past her home.

She said: “It is a wonder we have not had any more accidents.

“They just fly round.

“The road is very treacherous.”

A spokesman for Essex County Council said problems in the road are scheduled for inspection and maintenance work is being carried out today (March 3).