CALLS are being made for action on the A420 after an elderly couple skidded off the road and ended up in a ditch.

Edward and Gladys Parsons were driving home to Bristol from Chippenham, when their car left the road at a series of sharp bends at Ford.

The couple, and their daughter Sue, were trapped in the car.

They were rescued by a passing motorist who called the police.

Their daughter-in-law Gail Parsons said: "The car went down the ravine and ended up at a 45 degree angle. My father-in-law is 74 and suffers from asthma and wouldn't have been able to climb out by himself.

The three were helped to safety by firefighters.

Mrs Parsons is furious because she says the road was not gritted at the time and there were no crash barriers to stop the vehicle ploughing down the ravine.

Wiltshire County Council's highways officer Emil Ruabenheimer said the aim was to resurface the beds.

He said the stretch of road would be added to the list of places bidding for resurfacing in next year's budget.