A PETITION has been started to stop speeding drivers endangering the lives of children on their way to school.

Parents want a speed camera or speed bumps put along Wignall Street in Lawford.

They claim drivers regularly ignore the 30mph speed limit.

A number of near misses has led to 50 people signing the petition.

Alison Jordan, of Wignall Street, walks her two daughters aged one and four along the narrow path to Little Pumpkins Preschool on Long Road.

She and her husband David have been a driving force behind the petition.

Mrs Jordan said: “This walk is very often hair-raising to say the least from the speed of the traffic.

“I have had to report an incident to the police where a lorry mounted the pavement narrowly missing us.

“There are many children along this road, and there are sections of the pavement here that are so narrow that a child is at constant risk of being swept under the wheels of a speeding car or lorry.”

Mrs Jordan, 35, added: “The speed limit is 30 mph, but a survey done last year by the police showed that 75 per cent of cars go 40 or above.

“I have personally witnessed bus drivers, lorry drivers, coach drivers and taxi's speeding as well as numerous cars.

“A car going 30 mph is unusual and can be spotted by the queue of traffic behind them.

“We have 50 signatures so far and about a third of the way through the area we want to cover door to door.

“I have some mum volunteers to visit these houses over the next couple of weekends. Of the houses we have visited only one has declined to sign.”

The campaigners hope better signage will be put up and traffic calming measures introduced to help reduce the problem.