WALKERS are dicing with death by making a quick dash across a ‘very busy’ main road in Newton Abbot, it has been claimed.

Torrential rain completely blocked off a well-used subway underneath Penn Inn roundabout – leaving residents only one option.

They are being forced to take a ‘considerable risk’ by running across Torquay Road to finish their journeys.

County and district councillor Gordon Hook demanded urgent action to sort out the soggy saga.

He complained: ‘The Penn Inn underpass has been flooded to a depth of at least a foot since last weekend.

‘As a consequence some pedestrians are now crossing a very busy main road at considerable risk.

‘In my opinion lives are at stake. Young children going to and from school are running across the dangerous Penn Inn roads.’

Cllr Hook said: ‘This has fast become a major fiasco. I am particularly concerned for safety of large number of school children who foolishly are running across main roads as a consequence.’

Officers at Devon County Council revealed the major problem has been caused by two ‘operational pumps’ failing.

The specialist pumps will have to be removed and fully inspected before being repaired or replaced, but a temporary measure has been taken.

A temporary pump was installed on Tuesday and water was cleared, but the subway flooded again by Wednesday morning.

A council spokesman explained: ‘We hope to have the existing two pumps fully serviced, reinstalled and operational within the next week or so.

‘In the meantime the temporary pump will be left operating to keep the subway clear of water.