CALLS are being made for a safety barrier to be erected at an unfenced road where a car plunged into an loch, killing two children.

Leia McCorrisken, three, and Seth McCorrisken, two, died on Wednesday when their mother’s car went off the A816, north of Kilmelford village.

The children’s mother, Hazel, 36, from the isle of Luing, escaped from the vehicle, which ended up submerged in 40ft of freezing water in Loch Nan Druimean. She was taken to Oban, Lorn and Islands Hospital and later discharged.

Yesterday, the cause of the accident was still under investigation.

Nigel Mitchell, chairman of Kilmelford and Kilninver Community Council said that some local residents were calling for a barrier at the unfenced area where the accident happened.

He said that although Argyll and Bute Council had done a lot of work on the road into Kilmelford there were now calls for a barrier where the accident happened.

Mr Mitchell said: “The road and the visibility has been improved but there has been comment by people in the community, who use that road, that they have been concerned driving at that side of the road not having a barrier.”

“It’s a generally straight piece of road at that particular stretch, but it is a concern when you are driving down that side of the road when there is no barrier on that part of the road.”

He said there were large areas of Scotland where roads ran alongside water with no safety fence and added: “A barrier down the side of that road would be a help, but you can’t protect every person from every eventuality.”

Argyll MSP Michael Russell agreed there were issues to be addressed adding: “While we should be cautious about drawing conclusions from this awful tragedy until all the facts are known, there are issues about the absence of barriers and cut backs in road maintenance including clearance of verges that will need to be examined. “We should also remember the weather and road conditions were very bad.”

The car plunged into water which was estimated by the local coastguard to be 40ft.