Angry residents of High Ongar are protesting about road hogs who speed in the village.

Residents living in King Street near the Wheatsheaf pub between the A414 and Blackmore are raising a petition calling for a 40mph speed limit.

Their action follows a spate of accidents - the latest when a car collided with a telegraph pole, causing homes to lose their power supplies.

Father-of-three Brian Cox told This Is Essex: "Enough is enough. I've always been amazed at the speed of traffic using the road.

"We've had several incidents just lately and losing our power was the final straw. There are only 40 houses in the road but the petition was signed by 50 people very quickly.

"I've complained to the council and to our MP in the past but nothing has been done. Now we'll send them the petition and hope it will do the trick. We don't want to wait until someone is killed before action is taken."

Mr Cox, a semi-retired electrician, has lived in King Street with his wife, Lesley, for the last three years. Saturday's accident dislodged a porcelain insulator from the electricity pole which cracked a window in his house.

High Ongar Parish Council chairman Tom Taylor said: "We fully intend to take this up with the authorities and have a good old bleat about the situation there.

"There are a lot of bends on that road yet drivers are legally able to travel at up to 60mph. Some restriction is essential."

An Epping Forest District Council spokesman said: "Speed limits are set in accordance with national criteria which include measurements such as density of housing on a given road.

"When the petition comes in we will review it in the context of national conditions."

Fed up - Brian Cox is leading a slow-down campaign as villagers living in King Street grow concerned about traffic passing through.

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