A WOMAN was killed at the weekend at a notorious accident blackspot.

Firemen took almost an hour to cut the 49-year-old's body from the wreckage after two cars crashed on the A556 near Tabley Parish Church.

The other driver escaped virtually unscathed and walked from his car.

"Her car was in quite a mess," said a Knutsford fireman. "The front was smashed in and the engine was on the road.

"The driver's side was pushed right over to the passenger's side." Churchgoers arrived at St Paul's, Tabley, on Sunday morning to find police accident signs by the roadside.

"It's just awful," said the Rev Michael Cavanagh.

"I find it very hard to understand why nothing has been done."

The vicar said too many drivers and passengers had now been injured or killed on the dangerous stretch. He has campaigned for years for improvements to the road.

"There are things thundering past and it's not safe for people coming to church," he said.

"I think it needs speed restrictions. It's wrong that you see speed restrictions on safe straight roads and there isn't one on that bit." Emergency crews were called to scene at about 9.50pm on Saturday, but the woman was already dead.

Paramedics treated the other driver for minor injuries.

"He was obviously quite fortunate," said an Ambulance Service spokesman.

Police closed the road while collision experts gathered evidence.

At about 10.30pm officers allowed firemen to cut the roof and other parts from the woman's Vauxhall Astra to free her body.

Yesterday (Tuesday) as the Guardian went to press police were unable to identify the woman but appealed for witnesses to call 01625 610000.