Families fighting for an improved crossing where a teenager almost died in an accident are set to see their hopes turn to reality.

Rebekah Ferrey, then 14, lay in a coma for almost three months after being knocked down by a hit-and-run driver on a zebra crossing in Valley Road, Shipley.

Now Bradford Council officers are recommending the approval of plans to convert the existing crossing into a toucan crossing after a major campaign by families who said there had been a frightening series of near-misses on the road.

Rebekah, 16, was knocked down on December 3, 1996. After the accident - in which Rebekah suffered brain damage and arm injuries - a campaign was mounted by the New Valley Road Tenants and Residents' Association who sent a 200-name petition to the Council demanding that action be taken.

At a highways sub-committee meeting on Wednesday, councillors will be asked to rubber-stamp proposals to introduce the new crossing which will have a push- button facility and a crossing for bikes.

Rebekah's mum, Karen, of Gaisby Mount, Shipley, today welcomed the news, saying that dozens of children had had problems with crossing the road due to the heavy traffic on it.

She said: "This is very good news and we welcome it. I know a lot of children have problems crossing the road because the traffic won't stop."

Plucky Rebekah is now at Shipley College but her mum says she still suffers from memory loss and can't go anywhere on her own.

Janet King, minute secretary of the tenants and residents' association, said: "It's absolutely brilliant news. My daughters have to use that crossing and I'm sure a lot of people will be thrilled about this."

The estimated cost of the crossing is £30,000 and if plans are approved on Wednesday, the improvements will be made during the next financial year.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.