FAMILIES preparing to spend another Christmas without a loved one are battling to remove the tree at the heart of countless accidents on the A6135.

Brave parents, siblings and other relatives of fatal accident victims gathered around the tree near the junction with Kirby Lane in an attempt to have it removed before another family is struck by tragedy. The latest accident, at the same spot on November 30, hospitalised four youths.

Gail Lake's son, Christopher, was one of three youngsters to be killed in May 2008. He was on his way to Barnsley to celebrate his 18th birthday when driver Ashley Murphy, 18, lost control and hit the tree. Christopher and his 19-year-old girlfriend Leanne Fletcher died at the scene. Ashley later died in hospital.

Gail, 50, said: "The pain never goes away. Nothing is ever the same again." She said Christmas is hard because it reminds them of Christopher, but she makes the effort for her grandchildren. Christopher's sister, Fiona, gave birth to her second son, whom she named after her brother, just a month after he died.

Fiona, 25, said: "I do visit the tree but I would like to see it come down. The tree plays a major role in causing the fatalities as it brings an abrupt stop if anyone loses control on the bend. Since the accident nothing has been done. If no action is taken then many families will suffer like all of us." A council spokesman said the council and police were working together to see what improvements can be made.

He added: "Clearly we would like no fatalities in South Yorkshire and strive to put in place appropriate road safety measures, on a priority basis. At present we are gathering data to help assess what options are appropriate and fundable, we hope to conclude these investigations early in the new year."