Dundrum in County Down does not have the road safety infrastructure to meet its needs, according to the SDLP.

Mr Seán Rogers said the lack of pedestrian road crossing is an "accident waiting to happen".

Mr Rogers said the more than mile long road through the centre of the village also increased road safety pressures.

He said: "The grounds of Dundrum GAC attract huge crowds for the regular Sunday morning car boot sale. It is recognised as one of the most popular in all of Northern Ireland.

"The club matches and training sessions cater for all sorts of age groups as well as spectators coming and going from matches.

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"Saint Donard's Church of Ireland Hall also hosts Saturday morning sales events as well as table tennis games during the winter nights.

"These are important links in the life of the local community. People should not be put at risk over being involved in such events.

"We are coming into the real start of the summer season. The through flow of traffic in Dundrum, coming both to and from Newcastle for example makes the area the single most used road in Northern Ireland at most times.

"It is also a village that has seen huge growth in residential numbers in recent years.

"Both the local primary School population and the numbers of pupils travelling to other local towns has reflected that population growth.

"The coming on stream of the magnificent new Knockevin School complex in the village will obviously increase traffic volumes locally.

"And the significant financial commitment by my SDLP Ministerial party colleague Mark H Durkan to provide long term additional funding for the development of Dundrum Castle as a major tourism destination will also add to the positive tourism mix."

(CD/LM)