Someone will die on a Downham road where drivers regularly flout the one way system and driving headlong towards other cars, residents claim.

Around 300 people have signed a petition calling for stronger enforcement of the one way system on Old Bromley Road, with neighbours warning accidents and near misses are an almost daily occurrence.

Childminder Stephanie D'Cruz said she has seen a cyclist get knocked off his bike into a lamp post and recently had two encounters with people driving the wrong way in just 48 hours.

She said: "I was waiting to turn right to go up into Bromley and a car turned left where the sign says no entry and almost drive into me.

"The next day a car decided to do a u-turn and I had to swerve to avoid him coming the wrong way.

"But if you put your window down and say 'you're going the wrong way' you get abuse screamed at you."

She added: "At least once a week a car will almost drive into me."

News Shopper: 'Someone's going to die' - warning over Downham wrong way drivers

Ms D'Cruz said: "I'm really worried a car's going to swerve and they're going to end up hitting a child on the pavement.

"Someone's going to get killed there or seriously hurt and it most probably isn't going to be the driver."

The 56-year-old said the problem has worsened since a McDonald's drive-thru opened on the road, and believes a CCTV camera and clear markings on the road surface will help prevent further accidents.

Julia Fletcher, the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Lewisham East who organised the petition, said: "Local residents and the Downham Liberal Democrat team have contacted the council many times in the past about this issue. 

"Minor changes have been made but the situation persists and presents a daily danger to local people.  Effective action must be taken now before someone is killed."

A spokesman for Lewisham Council said: "We completely respect the right of residents to petition the council and welcome this as one way in which they can bring their concerns to the council’s attention. We provide guidance on how to do this on our website."