Watch out – PC Speedy's about in Startforth

EARLY morning speeding motorists have triggered a unique response from one parish council.

Startforth Parish Council’s new weapon against drivers will be “PC Speedy” – a six foot two inch plastic policeman purchased for £90. His arrival in the village was announced at last week’s parish council meeting but his location will remain under wraps for now.

Cllr Peter Worley told parish colleagues PC Speedy was “not very robust” but a metal alternative would have cost £400.

More serious concerns have sparked the move in Startforth after a string of complaints about vehicle speeds was sent to the council. One motorist in particular was getting councillors’ backs up.

Cllr Doreen Thompson said: “One comes down from Boldron down through the village on Gill Lane.”

Cllr Worley said he knew who it was.

He also revealed his concerns about motorists on the main A67 at the break of dawn.

He added: “I walked past the 40 miles per hour sign and I counted that out of five motorists at 5am not one of them was doing less than 60 miles per hour. So it is a problem – the police say it’s not their job any more.”

Calls for “hard policing” by residents last year led to a clampdown on speeding motorists on the A67 with the problem named a police priority and Community Speedwatch surveys undertaken.

Eight motorists out of 617 were sent warning letters.

However, police officials have warned in the past there are limits to what they can achieve in a short period of time. Chairwoman Cllr Sue Ellwood said the council had been in touch with the Durham County Council Highways team about the problem in the past.

When it came to PC Speedy, she added: “Let’s give it a go – if it has a little bit of an impact it’s better than nothing.”