A top-ranking police officer has branded the soaring death toll on the region's roads as a "disgrace".

Divisional commander Supt Peter Sheldrake said the Braintree district's roads were among the most dangerous in Essex.

He said: "There were 20 fatalities last year. There have been 13 this year already and that's a disgrace. Other districts have faster roads, but they don't get anywhere near that number of deaths."

He said the danger intensified as the weather hotted up and motorists took to the roads. And born-again bikers reliving their youth on high-powered speed machines were putting themselves at the top of the risk list.

"A bit of sun on a summer afternoon is a nightmare for us," said Mr Sheldrake. "They get their machines out and then do 80 or 90mph."

March has seen the highest death count so far this year. Millionaire Chris Dawes and two passengers were killed in a fireball when his McLaren F1 car exploded after spinning out of control near Dunmow.

A Braintree man also died earlier that month when his car hit a tree. And on Easter Sunday two women were killed in an accident on the A131 on the outskirts of Braintree.

An anti-speeding campaign that month had seen some positive results. Traffic police set up speed traps in 30mph zones using hand-held radar guns.

"We issued 1,400 tickets and saw a 20 per cent reduction in accidents," said Mr Sheldrake.

But he warned that a zero tolerance crackdown would be unpopular with drivers.

"Most people drive at 35mph and I think we are almost over-enforcing speed limits. But if I can be convinced it will reduce accidents by 20 per cent we will do it all the time."

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