A MAN who delivers milk to a friend at Sunnybanks, Coleford, is upset after a boy on a bike smashed into the side of his car at 20-25mph on a 'blind' slope leading onto the estate road.

Leigh Freeman, who lives at Milkwall, says children are risking their lives on a daily basis swooping down a bank on bikes and skateboards and between 8ft hedges to rush straight out onto the road.

"I couldn't sleep for two nights after the trauma, wondering what might have happened if I had been a few minutes later – he'd have gone right under my wheels," Mr Freeman said.

"The problem is they can't see what's on the road until the last minute and by then it could be too late – apart from cars, there's a danger they could hit somebody walking and hurt them badly – there are a lot of old people in the area.

"I have contacted local councillor Paul McMahon to say that what they need is a kissing gate or something to stop the children before they come out into the road. I've drawn up a map of the area for him too. I'm really worried, and my wife has just phoned to say she was nearly hit by another youngster from the same Sunnybanks family this morning (Monday). It makes us think nobody has learned any lessons from the incident."

Mr Freeman added: "I was so upset when the lad ran into me. He said he was all right but I made him get in the car and I put his bike in the boot and I took him home just in case he was concussed.

"His parents thanked me and said they would warn him and his friends about the danger. They also said they would help with the cost of repairs but although I have looked for a secondhand door to save them costs they now say they are not going to pay."

His wife Sonia added: "Because we know of the danger we drive very slowly down the road but there are people that go down there at 40 or 50 miles an hour. It's really worrying."