Motorists warned after speeding crackdown outside primary school

Campaigners have formed their own community speed watch group after growing concerns of accidents including one last weekend.

Police have joined together to help with the first event in a series of speed clampdowns in Wordsley, near Stourbridge.

Residents and parents have led concerns after motorists were found speeding past Ashwood Park Primary School.

Ward Councillor Derrick Hemingsley was contacted by residents in nearby streets in the saying they have been facing problems too.

The new speed watch group is working alongside police community support officers during monthly monitoring sessions.

More than 40 drivers were found to be speeding by the volunteers and police using speed guns to track motorists on roads.

They focused on Rangeways Road, Lawnswood Road, Balmoral Road and Bells Lane. They also monitored speeds in New Street which had been the scene of an accident on Saturday.

A male motorcyclist, believed to be in his 20s, suffered head, pelvis and leg injuries after being involved in a crash with a car.

Councillor Hemingsley said that the crash brought home dangers on the roads in Wordsley.

"We are surprised at the number of people who have been found over the speed limit," he said.

"It shows that this was needed and we will continue. This is the start of the process to have visible patrols to show people who are driving along.

"It is important to slow the speeds especially outside the school to protect the children."

Anyone found speeding will be issued with a warning letter but will not be fined under the scheme which will get under way in the coming weeks.

At least 44 people will be sent letters in the coming days to warn therm about their speeds on the road.

During the checks volunteers were shocked to find one of the drivers had clocked 47 mph in a 30 mph zone near the school, off Balmoral Road.

The statistics gathered are going to be collated and presented to Dudley Council bosses to showcase the level of the problem.

New Street resident Stewart Lee, aged 53, said that the problem must be tackled before there was a serious accident.

"Someone is going to be killed down here unless something is done and I would hate for there to be a serious accident before they take notice," he said.