The owner of a Suffolk coffee shop fears a child could be seriously injured or killed in the street outside because vehicles are travelling the wrong way round the one way system.

James Scott said he had experienced constant problems with traffic congestion in the three years since he had run Nine Deli in Pinkney's Lane, Southwold.

READ MORE: Suffolk man smashes charity target with Everest success

Now, he is calling on the county council to either close the lane by installing bollards at the ends or introduce improved signage so drivers no longer make the mistake of travelling up the road the wrong way.

He added motorists coming down Queen Street are turning left into Pinkney's Lane when the one-way system only allows vehicles to travel down Pinkney's Lane from the opposite direction from East Street.

The situation has led to many vehicle clashes, often resulting in the driver that had turned into the lane from Queen Street having to reverse back out again.

East Anglian Daily Times: James Scott, who runs ninedeli in Pinkney's Lane, Southwold, is concerned a child could be killed or seriously injured in the road outside his businessJames Scott, who runs ninedeli in Pinkney's Lane, Southwold, is concerned a child could be killed or seriously injured in the road outside his business (Image: James Scott)

Mr Scott said: "It won't be long before someone or a small child gets killed or seriously injured and nobody seems to be noticing."

Although there are red 'No Entry' signs at the junction of Pinkney's Lane and Queen Street, he said the positioning of the signs was very hard for motorists to see.

READ MORE: Southwold news

He said the county council did close Pinkney's Lane 'for about four hours' when the town's Charter Fair takes place, but was apparently unwilling to consider a permanent closure of the street.

Mr Scott believed many drivers used Pinkney's Lane as a 'rat run' to get to the seafront, but he said closing the road would not affect this as there were plenty of other routes that provided access.

A spokesperson for Suffolk Highways, said: "Southwold Town Council liaise with business owners and will be discussing this matter and their next meeting. Signs are in place to advise motorists that they cannot turn right or left into Pinkney’s Lane along with ‘No Entry’ signs. Vehicles ignoring these signs are committing an offence which should be reported directly to the Police."

READ MORE: Suffolk news