A local councillor has vowed to stand on guard at Standish crossroads taking pictures with his own camera of people who flout the law.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said today that they would consider any information presented to them.

Independent Conservative councillor George Fairhurst says he is being forced to take direct action because of the number of drivers who are continuing to illegally turn left out of Market Street towards Wigan.

This is putting them in direct conflict with pedestrians in the busy village centre.

That is because the traffic lights summon them to cross High Street as soon as Market Street traffic gets the green light.

Earlier this week a mum ushering her children across the junction found a car bearing down on them while attempting to turn left.

Thankfully it led to nothing more serious than a heated stand-off between the angry parent and driver. Metro highways engineers were so concerned about the danger that they implemented a series of measures last year.This included building out the kerb in Market Street, new signs and warning strips laid into the road surface.

But still drivers risk the lives of shoppers by blatantly ignoring the warnings and turning left.

Coun Fairhurst said: "We have had two fatalities at this crossroads in recent years so the very last thing I want to hear about is a third.

This latest incident brought it home to me that something needs doing now and because the police are pretty stretched with a lot on, I'm going to do it myself on a regular basis.

"I hope that word gets around that I'm going to be there on the corner with that camera regularly and ready to record any drivers who are doing this manoeuvre."

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "We are aware of problems with drivers illegally turning left from Market Street. While we would not recommend a member of the public endangering themselves to capture such illegal behaviour on camera, any evidence presented will be investigated thoroughly."