FED-UP residents are staging a bin protest amid claims that lives are at risk in their road.

Residents of Raleigh Road, Wallisdown claim commuters use it as a rat-run and said they are so worried about road safety they are trying to stop people parking there.

Dozens have placed dustbins in the road to stop nearby workers parking for the day and they plan to lobby Poole council to take action.

The road runs parallel to the main Wallisdown Road and residents said traffic is so bad someone could be killed.

“Many of the houses have off-road parking but there are so many cars parked in the street it is impossible to see when you are pulling out” said resident Brian Faulkner.

“The road is used as a rat-run during rush hours and cars come hammering along there at speed. “There are mums with prams and children walking to school at the same time and it is dangerous – someone could be killed.”

Mr Faulkner said some nearby workplaces have inadequate parking, meaning many employees are looking for street parking.

“Our cars often get blocked in and a lot of people have nearly been knocked over” he added.

Diane Willmore said it is impossible to park near her home, posing particular difficulties when her daughter visits with her young triplets “It is a nightmare having to walk a long way with the babies, the shopping and all their belongings” said Diane. “Employers should provide more parking spaces because it is just getting worse.”

Neighbour Roy Keeping said: “We are determined that the council should do something about it.”

And Jon Cant added: “People can’t have items delivered because lorries can’t park anywhere in the road and there is an elderly woman who needs medical care and the nurses can’t park anywhere near her house with all their equipment.”

Cllr Tony Trent is currently discussing the situation with residents in a bid to find a solution to the problem and conducted a survey in January.

He said: “Some people favour certain measures and others favour different things. I would like to hear from anyone who has any ideas about what we can do to make things better.”

Cllr Trent said he will put forward proposals to Poole council but said a residents parking scheme does not have the support of council officers.