A notorious accident blackspot where three people have died and more than a dozen have been injured is to have safety work carried out.

Highways engineers have drawn up a £150,000 scheme to try to prevent further serious accidents on the A6 just to the south of Kegworth.

The short but busy stretch of road near The Otter pub has a long history of motorists and pedestrians being killed or seriously injured, which has prompted Leicestershire County Council to take action.

They studied the causes of a string of accidents between 2005 and 2007 – including a crash that claimed the lives of two Loughborough University students in February 2007 – before coming up with new designs for the road.

Kegworth's ward councillor Trevor Pendleton said: "I'm very happy this work will happen because that is a very dangerous stretch of road, as its accident records show.

"You have got the entrances to the Otter, a marina and a lay-by.

"It you are coming up the road from Loughborough and something or someone is coming out of any of those there is a very good chance you will hit it."

Work was set to start today and is expected to last around 12 weeks.

It includes right-turn lanes for the marina and the lay-by, road markings lines, signs and a skid-resistant road surface.

A County Hall spokeswoman said: "The road improvements will address accidents involving northbound-travelling vehicles turning right into the boatyard and lay-by."

County council cabinet member for transport Lesley Pendleton said: "It's much needed safety work but this is the area where the proposed Kegworth bypass was to start and run to the motorway.

"Under that scheme we would have got a traffic island there, which would have solved the safety problems.

"Unfortunately, the Government has gone back on its promise to give us a bypass, so the county council has to step in."

She said: "Since 2000, accidents in the county have reduced by around 35%.

"This scheme will support the continuous programme the county council has to further improve this statistic. Although every effort will be made to keep inconvenience to road users to a minimum, there will be a certain amount of disruption while the work is in progress.

"Drivers are urged to observe the road work signs and be cautious."

Patrick Connelly, a barman at The Otter, said: "The roadworks might cause a few delays for motorists and could have a bit of impact on our trade.

"However, in the long term, it will be for the best, because there have been some nasty accidents."

While the work is continuing, temporary traffic signals will operate.

Work will take place during off-peak periods.

For more information ABOabout the scheme call 0116 305 0001.