VILLAGERS living on the A48 say it's time to stop the death toll on their doorsteps.

Hartland Hill residents have called for further action after the death of Lydney man Matt Trattles.

Villagers like Dennis Beale say the tragedies are having an impact on their lives.

He spoke shortly after devastated relatives of Mr Trattles, 24, left floral tributes opposite his cottage.

They included ones from his children Caitlin and Leon and parents Kenneth and Ann who wrote: "Mathew, Missing you already. Sleep tight babe. Till we meet again. Lots of love always."

Quietly spoken motor enthusiast Mr Beale said although the main impact is on the families, local people feel it too.

"It is affecting people's lives," he said. "If somebody breaks in, you get letters offering you counselling but not with this."

It started in 1986 when a driver from Gloucester was killed after ploughing into his garden wall.

Since then he has lost count of the number of drivers who have skidded into the hedges and fences between Lyes abattoir and the caravan in a field adjoining his home.

His garden wall has been demolished several times and he is now too frightened to use his garden.

Attempts to sell his home have failed.

After taking early retirement from a job which involved investigating serious accidents, Mr Beale started campaigning for improvements and a crash barrier to protect residents.

There have been four fatalities since and he has been there to try to help at three.

His cottage has been a refuge for the walking wounded and he says his neighbour Stan Alcaster, who lives in a caravan in a field next door, has narrowly cheated death.

Mr Beale rushed out when Mr Trattles died but there was nothing he could do.

"When you go back to bed you cannot sleep," he said.

"Your brain is racing and you feel quite sick. You have to just lie there talking about what happened.

"My partner did not want to drive in the morning but I know it's better if you go to work and keep busy. You would not be able to rest anyway.

"Every time it happens, you have to go out to see if there is anything you can do, but you never know what you are going to see."

But Mr Beale, who spent 27 years in senior positions at the Department of Transport in Wales believes most accidents are down to drivers driving too fast for the road and misjudging the camber of the bend because the road is so wide. He would like to see islands and speed cameras.

Meanwhile police have put an appeal out to trace missing witnesses to the last crash at around 3.15am on November 3 which involved Mr Trattles' blue Subaru Impreza and a white Mercedes Sprinter van driven by a Cinderford man.