A Norwich mother has called for a zebra crossing to be installed across a busy city road before an increasing volume of vehicles results in a child or pedestrian being seriously injured.

Kate Read, 35, of College Road, has launched a petition and collected 260 signatures backing her call for the new crossing point at the junction of the Avenues and Recreation Road beside Heigham Park.

She said traffic levels along the Avenues and Avenue Road had increased enormously during the last 15 years due to the expansion of the University of East Anglia and the increased number of vehicles using the Bluebell Road entrance.

'I think somebody could be seriously hurt. It is the volume that is the main problem, though some drivers do go faster than the 20mph speed limit,' Mrs Read said.

Her other concern was that the Avenues was an important component of the Push the Pedalways scheme, to encourage cycling in the city, adding that while she supported the scheme's overall objective, she feared an increase in cycling along the road could also jeopardise the safety of pedestrians and children.

She said pupils attending Recreation Road Infants School, Parkside School, Avenue Junior School, St Thomas More Junior School and Peapod Pre-School regularly walked in that area.

She said an existing road hump at the site was ambiguous, confusing and unsafe.

Her children Ella Thompson-Read, five and Alice, three, attend the Recreation Road and Peapod schools respectively.

Mrs Read, who lives with her husband Jack Thompson, 38, added: 'The provision of a crossing should be targeted at the needs of those who experience the most difficultly and danger.

'A zebra crossing here is essential in order to allow safe access and flow of pedestrians to Heigham Park as well as Recreation Road, Parkside, Avenues, St Thomas More Schools and Peapod Pre-School.'

Among those backing her petition were a partially-sighted and a deaf resident.

On Thursday, she presented her petition to the Norwich Highways Agency Committee at City Hall.

A spokesman for Norwich City Council said: 'The Avenues is one of the major areas for consideration as part of our Push the Pedalways cycling project. An important part of the process is consulting residents so their views can be taken into consideration when looking at solutions that address the requirements of all road users. We will certainly be taking into account this petition, along with any other comments made, when public consultation on the project continues next year.'

To support the petition, visit www.ipetitions.com/petition/zebra-crossing-for-the-avenues-nr2.