A DORSET farmer has called for the council to improve safety at a sharp bend - which is catching motorists out at a rate of one a month.

Sarah Coombs, part owner of Brambles Farm, Edmondsham, near Verwood, says her family is tired of repeatedly having to mend fencing on one of their fields, because vehicles are frequently crashing through it as they fail to negotiate the corner.

Sarah, who says they cannot keep their horses in the field because of the danger, fears it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured at the bend along Edmondsham Road.

"We had one woman come around, she ended-up upside down with her kids in the car," Sarah told the Echo.

"Last year we roughly had one car going off the road and into the field once a month. In the summer, when it is dryer, they've actually come off the road, smashed through the fencing, then driven around the field and out of the gate.

"They've just left it like that, even thought we've had horses in there, they've not bothered to tell anyone.

"Now, if we have to tow them out we charge them £200, which isn't a lot. Some people say it is too expensive, but it is us that have to keep coming out and putting the fence back up again."

The most recent accident happened last week, when yet another car ended up in the Coombs' field after plough through the fencing. The driver left the scene without informing the Coombs.

Sarah said: "We cannot use the field at the moment because there is no fence, but also its dangerous because of the cars crashing all the time. Basically, it means the whole field is out of action."

The Coombes' want the bend improving, they've even put up some of their land to be used to make the turn less acute.

"We'll give up land in order to make this corner safer," said Sarah. "We've been here for 30 years and it has always been a problem bend. As far as I can remember, no-one has been seriously hurt here yet. But this could change - people have been killed on other bends along this road."

Dorset County Council's highways manager Mike Westwood said that his department had not received any recent contact from Brambles Farm or Mrs Coombs regarding the corner.

However, he added: "It is something that we are aware of historically and the corner does have a sign and some hazard marker posts to indicate its severity.

"We will investigate the current situation and assess if any other works are required to improve the safety of the highway at this location.

"If Mrs Coombs would like to contact us we would be more than happy to discuss the situation."