WYRE Forest Liberal councillors fear drivers could face lengthy delays if proposals to change the make-up of a busy Kidderminster road are enforced.

The Highways Agency is planning alterations to the A456 Birmingham Road in a bid to improve safety and cut the number of accidents.

It plans to reduce the carriageway to one lane on both sides between Husum Way and the Hodgehill Nurseries garden centre.

A total of 57 collisions resulting in injuries have been recorded on the road since 2000, including one fatal and 14 serious accidents.

In a joint statement, councillors Siri Hayward, along with Mike and Fran Oborski, said: "The single lane would be in much the same way as they have done to the A449 Worcester Road between Ombersley and Hartlebury.

"They hope that this will cut accidents but the worry is that we may end up with a constant single stream of traffic at peak times, making it even more difficult to get out of Husum Way to turn right to Birmingham."

A spokeswoman for the Highways Agency said it was estimated the change to a single lane would result in a 20 per cent reduction in accidents.

She added: "The safety scheme proposals include improvements to the staggered junction at Husum Way and Hurcott Lane, the access junction for Hodgehill Nurseries, improvements to the central reservation gaps at New Wood Lane and the closure of two gaps."