Highways chiefs have been asked to carry out a top priority road safety survey in the area of traffic-snarled Sticker Lane after a youngster was knocked down.

Schoolgirl Cherub Knowles, 11, faces at least two months in traction then weeks on crutches after the accident in Sticker Lane.

Cherub, of Calverley Avenue, Bradford Moor, suffered a double fracture to her femur as she walked home at the junction of Sticker Lane and Parsonage Road.

Her dad Brian, 58, licensee of the 147 Snooker Bar, Laisterdyke, said: "I received a call at work and when I heard it was at Sticker Lane I thought it would be fatal because the traffic is so bad there."

He said Cherub's accident did not appear to have been caused directly by traffic volume. "But certainly if there had been a signal controlled crossing, there the accident wouldn't have happened because she wouldn't have crossed when she did. I think something should be done."

He said Cherub, who is in the children's ward at Bradford Royal Infirmary with her mum Cherie at her bedside, had been brave throughout the trauma. "She has never cried once and we are very proud of her."

Families in Parsonage Road have been campaigning for three years for safety measures in the street, which has become a rat-run.

Mum-of-three Sharon Mallett has collected at least 200 names on a petition asking for a safety scheme. She intends to send it to City Hall when it is complete.

Sharon has been gathering names since a youngster was knocked off her bike several weeks ago in Parsonage Road but was unhurt.

Ward councillor John Ryan (Lab, Bowling) said he had written to the Council's highways officers asking for a survey of the whole area because of its growing problems. He said he was also putting the issue forward to the area panel.

"I am concerned about the whole area although the two incidents were not in the same place. This was once a residential area with just light industry.

"Now there have been many developments including the expansion of JCT 600 and it has become a major route out of Bradford. These sort of incidents must not become a regular feature.

"There are also particular problems at the bottom end of Parsonage Road which is the access to Morrisons."

Chairman of the Council's highways sub-committee Councillor Phil Thornton said he would ask officers to carry out a survey.

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