A letter has been sent out to residents calling on them to support a petition set up after a 10-year-old girl was killed at a pedestrian crossing.

Toufik Moumen, whose daughter Yesmine died in December 2010 after a collision with a car at the traffic lights in Monkswood Way, Stevenage, has written to those living in Bedwell and Monkswood asking for their help.

Kevin Ruder, of Keller Close, Stevenage, was cleared of causing death by careless driving in March 2012.

In the letter, sent out last week, Mr Moumen said: “Monkswood Way currently has a 40mph speed limit, yet many pedestrians cross that road to go to ASDA, North Herts College and Roaring Meg Retail Park. My precious daughter, Yesmine, was with her mother when she was hit by a car and killed.

“We do not want any more parents to go through that, so we are calling on Hertfordshire County Council to reduce the speed from 40mph to 30mph on Monkswood Way and to install speed cameras.”

The letter is also signed by Sharon Taylor, leader of Stevenage Borough Council and a county councillor, who said she “wholeheartedly” supports the petition.

Cllr Taylor added: “The Labour group at the county council will pursue this and I hope other parties will join us. This isn’t a party political issue, it’s a common sense one. Life is too precious to play politics.”

Mr Moumen hopes to collect more than 1,000 signatures before presenting the petition to the county council in November. To support it, visit consult.hertsdirect.org/petitions