Works have finally started on a dangerous road junction in Chessington where a girl was hit by a motorbike more than a year ago.

A pedestrian crossing is being installed at the junction of the A243 Leatherhead Road and Merritt Gardens, close to Ellingham Primary and St Phillip’s schools.

The improvements are being carried out following a petition by mum Sarah Yates, whose six-year-old daughter Jessica was knocked down while crossing the busy junction in September 2011.

Mrs Yates’ petition received 1,774 signatures in total, but plans were put on hold with Olympics road improvements being considered more important.

Jim Taylor, of the Chessington District Residents’ Association, said: “The improvements have been sought for some time and at last we have got some success.

“It is obviously an area we have been concerned about as it is used heavily by schoolchildren – anything that improves road safety is good news.”

Works began on February 4 and are expected to last about three weeks, being carried out jointly by Transport for London and Kingston Council’s contractor R J Dance.

Chessington resident Lesley Davies, 52, said: “It has got to be worth the disruption for a few weeks if it means potentially saving lives further down the line.”

The A243 Leatherhead Road is one of Kingston’s busiest roads with traffic cutting through from the M25 past Chessington World of Adventures to meet the A3 at Hook.