Earlier this month residents in Ratcliffe Road, Farnborough, told the Mail that they feared for their safety after three separate car accidents happened near the end of their gardens.

But last week they learnt from the Highways Agency that the crash barriers would only be put up if government funding to install noise barriers near junction 4 of the M3 is granted.

Residents have reacted angrily as they believe the crash barriers should be installed regardless.

The agency’s letter to residents denied vehicles had been leaving the carriageway and crashing near residents’ gardens.

But it states that if the noise barrier project went ahead “the inclusion of the crash barrier will have the additional benefit of protecting residents in the event of a vehicle leaving the carriageway”.

However, Ratcliffe Road residents are adamant that a crash barrier needs to be installed before someone is hurt.

A 77 year old, who asked not to be named, was lucky she was not in her garden when a car rolling down the bank in June 2004 caused a tree to snap and crash into their shed.

She said: “If it was not for the trees the vehicle would have come into my garden. It definitely came down the embankment. My shed was damaged when the car hit the tree.”

The pensioner remains adamant the cars came down the embankment. She added: “As far as I am concerned it’s dangerous and they should do something. The gap (in crash barriers) is on a dangerous bend. As the cars come round the bend a lot of drivers lose control of their cars.”

Neighbours living there have also complained that chopping the trees back has made it more dangerous because they obstruct vehicles.

Neighbours Marjorie and David Smith complained to ward councillor Mike Smith last June about the dangers.

They told the Mail they were shocked the Highways Agency did not respond immediately to their concerns.

“It’s extremely disappointing. We know the cars came down the bank. It’s rubbish to say they did not come off the carriageway.”

They are particularly concerned about what could happen if an articulated lorry or petrol tanker landed in their gardens.

Cllr Smith was disappointed with the Highway Agency’s response.

“If were a resident I would be alarmed,” he said. “The Highways Agency accepts a vehicle could leave the carriageway but is saying it can only do something when the funding is ratified. In my mind it’s back to front. They should put safety first.”

Cll Roland Dibbs of the borough council’s executive said the results of the bid for funding would be announced in a couple of weeks.

If unsuccessful he would press for the installation of crash barriers at the site.

Work to install noise barriers around junction 4a started earlier this month.

The Ministry of Transport is expected to announce later this month whether the Highways Agency’s bid for £1.25million to install sound barriers between Curly footbridge and junction 4 is successful. The Highways Agency declined to discuss the residents’ concerns until the outcome of the government bid was known.