Sat nav systems are sending vehicles down a dead end Kidderminster lane, prompting new fears that walkers and children, using it as a school short cut, could be injured.

An ambulance crew was sent down Offmore Lane off Chester Road North a few weeks ago and paramedics ended up trying to cut through locks on bollards to try and reach the nearby housing estate.

Drivers arriving at the lane are ignoring the ‘No Through Road’ sign at its entrance, believing they can reach Wordsworth Crescent and the Offmore Farm estate because of directions given through sat navs.

But the road only leads to Kidderminster Cricket Club and has bollards at the bottom stopping traffic access to the estate.

In the latest incident yesterday, an electrical goods lorry became stuck at the bottom of the road while trying to make a delivery to the estate. Taxis have also been caught out.

Resident Maria Bradley, aged 83, of Wordsworth Crescent, said: “It is a major problem as drivers are just ignoring the sign.

“They get all the way to the bottom and realise they can’t turn around.

“Then they have to reverse all the way back up and its only a matter of time before they hit a pedestrian.

“Lots of schoolchildren use the lane to get to and from Offmore First School. It is a very dangerous situation.”

Offmore ward councillor Fran Oborski is now meeting with police and county council officers to press for more warning signs at the lane’s entrance.

Councillor Oborski said: “This is highly dangerous to pedestrians particularly when cars try to back out at high speed. The path is used extensively by youngsters.”

By Sol Buckner