A FARMER has called for action on speeding traffic on the lethal A505 Royston bypass after he lost several sheep in an accident. Robert Law, owner of Thrift Farm in Baldock Road, said: That road is lethal and something needs to be done. The speed that

A FARMER has called for action on speeding traffic on the "lethal" A505 Royston bypass after he lost several sheep in an accident.

Robert Law, owner of Thrift Farm in Baldock Road, said: "That road is lethal and something needs to be done. The speed that some people come down there is amazing."

The accident took place on Monday afternoon near the Little Chef roundabout.

A tractor from Mr Law's farm was emerging from Baldock Road when it was forced to swerve to avoid a car.< Mr Law claimed: "The car nipped out in front of my tractor when he didn't really have much time to do so, and the tractor driver had to swerve, otherwise he would have hit it. This caused the trailer to topple over."

Although Mr Law and several other members of his staff were on the scene quickly, they were unable to free any of the livestock until police arrived to control traffic flow.

Unfortunately, this meant a number of the sheep perished.

"We couldn't let them out because there would have been mayhem with sheep running loose in the road," said Mr Law.

"It was very sad for my staff, who work with these animals every day."

He believes the speed limit on the A505 should be reduced to 60mph, and that rumble strips should be installed on the approach to the roundabout.

"I've been farming here for 27 years, and in that time the A505 has just got more and more dangerous," he said.

"It doesn't help that the road surface is knackered and all the markings are worn away. It's in a terrible state," he added.

Last month Mr Law lost a whole year's hay crop after a blaze at a barn.