Speeders Were Villagers All Along

Villagers are squirming with embarrassment today after a crackdown on speeding past their homes uncovered the real culprits - the residents themselves.

For years police received complaints from householders in the Bristol village about traffic zooming through their streets.

But when police positioned their laser cameras along the road for two weeks, they found 30 of 133 motorists caught breaking the 30mph speed limit were from the two villages.

John Wilkes,aged 75,who described the road as "more like Piccadilly Circus than a peaceful village thoroughfare" was scathing about his neighbour drivers.

"I really think local people should have known better. We are complaining about it but how can you complain if you don't abide by it."

Local sub-postmaster,Ray Stewart,said "I'm not really that surprised a lot were local people,everyone just thinks it isn't going to happen to them.

"The number of people they caught really doesn't surprise me - I'm surprised it isn't more to be honest."

Sheila Kent,who runs the village store, said "Even after they're caught it doesn't always stop them.There are a lot of blind turnings around here and you just hope and pray someone is not hurtling down the road when you're turning out of one."

Katie Court,aged 50,has lived in the village all her life and said her husband had been one of those caught but couldn't see what the fuss was about.

She said "I think the lorries are more of a problem.My husband was only doing 35mph and I didn't think he deserved it.

"The speed doesn't really worry me - I just hop into a hedge.I have had my bag hit when I was walking along the road,mind - that was a bit too close for comfort. "

Sgt Mike Smalley,one of the police officers conducting the speeding crackdown,was not surprised by the statistics.

He said "It is often the case that we catch a high proportion of local people and some of those will have expressed their concern about speeding in the first instance."