A coroner has raised concerns about the "risk of further deaths" on a Cambridgeshire road after looking into the circumstances of an accident in which a mother and son died after her car ended up in a pond.

Simon Milburn, area coroner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, has sent a Prevention of Future Deaths report to Peterborough City Council's Highways Department, urging the authority to "take action" to improve signage on the road.

His report refers to the horrific death of Vivien Radocz, who died on September 3, 2022 after her Ford Focus ended up submerged and upside-down in a pond.

The 28-year-old drowned as she was unable to escape from her vehicle and her body was not discovered for several hours. Her son, Milan Radocz, aged eight, who was also in the car, died later in hospital.

An inquest into her death heard Vivien was travelling west along the Old Oundle Road, at Wittering at about 10.35am and her vehicle failed to negotiate a sharp left-hand bend and left the carriageway.

In his report, Mr Milburn said: "Vivien was unable to escape from the submerged vehicle which was not discovered until around 1730hrs that day. Emergency services attended the scene and fire officers then extricated Vivien from the vehicle. Sadly, her death was confirmed at the scene by a paramedic at 1942hrs."

He went on to say that during the course of his investigation, there were several matters "giving rise to concern".

"In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances, it is my statutory duty to report to you," he told the city council.

In a summary, Mr Milburn told the council: "The vehicle left the road to its offside and entered a pond where it became submerged in water.

"The two occupants of the vehicle drowned as a result. There is sharp route deviation signage for vehicles travelling in the opposite direction but nothing to alert westbound drivers of the sharp left-hand bend. The water beyond the bend clearly creates an additional hazard.

"Whilst the precise reason the vehicle failed to negotiate the left-hand bend on this occasion is unclear, I am concerned that the lack of signage alerting westbound traffic of the bend at this location creates a risk of future incidents and death, not least because of the water beyond

"In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe your organisation has the power to take such action.

"Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be taken, setting out the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain why no action is proposed."