Residents are accusing Transport for London (TfL) of ignoring their pleas for a pedestrian crossing linking the dangerous' Regents Park Road and Finchley Road near Henlys Corner.

TfL is currently carrying out maintenance work to the A406 North Circular Road, between Golders Green Road and A1 Falloden Way, and is upgrading the existing crossing by Falloden Way.

But residents say they have repeatedly requested a pedestrian crossing between Regents Park Road and Finchley Road.

Ubby Cowan, 89, of Beechwood Avenue, negotiates that section of road which has no official crossing at least once a day, and has previously met officials from the Highways Agency to outline his concerns.

He said: "It's very dangerous. There are only 35 seconds at the most to cross, and if you are held up by vehicles, you are stuck in the middle of the road with cars belting past you with no protection.

"TfL said people can walk through to the crossing near Beaufort Drive but I don't think more than ten people cross there in the day. I don't use it, as it is 500 to 600 yards away."

A TfL spokesman said it was aware of the problems pedestrians faced and was trying to find a solution. He added that despite strong support, during a consultation in 2002, for a new signal-controlled crossing at the junction, detailed analysis showed it would cause severe delays to road traffic.

He said: "TfL has an obligation to balance the needs of all road users, and it was felt that these proposals were too detrimental to road traffic.

"The scheme we are implementing at the moment provides new crossings at the junction of the A1 Falloden Way which, while not ideal, do provide safe means to cross the road. However, this scheme is not a substitute for a crossing at Henlys Corner, and we continue to examine every possible way of improving crossing facilities for pedestrians there."