A BUS route has been changed because of the sheer weight of traffic travelling through Kingsmead.

The number 37 bus passes through the estate on its way from Northwich to Winsford but has been forced to alter its route around Regency Way because it is too dangerous to turn on to the spine road.

It used to travel from Northwich along the spine road to the roundabout junction with Regency Way, by Kingsmead Square.

Then it went along Regency Way to its T-junction with the spine road and turned right, heading towards the cross roads with London Road.

Now the bus travels straight over the roundabout junction with Regency Way and turns left into Regency Way at the far end, doubling back on itself and meeting the spine road again at the roundabout by Kingsmead Square.

Anne Martin, of Shavington Way, said: "The traffic is so bad they've had to change the bus route because it can't get out of Regency Way.

"We get traffic from 5.30pm to 1am and the speed of that traffic can be quite frightening."

The alteration has made bus stops redundant on one side of Regency Way as buses can only use the road in one direction, no matter where their destination is.

Anne said: "The outer side of Regency Way has buses going in both directions and when I was at a bus stop there was a lady there who did get confused."

A spokesman for Arriva confirmed that the route had been changed.

He added: "Because the junction where they turn out on to the main road is extremely busy we took the decision to only come out at the roundabout for safety reasons.

"We did a risk assessment and it is in the interests of safety to do as we're doing now."