VILLAGERS are calling for action to slam the brakes on speeding motorists.

Residents in East Morton say many drivers ignore the 20mph limit through the village, putting people's safety at risk.

Now a petition has been launched pressing for traffic-calming measures to be introduced.

Victoria Holdgate, who co-created the petition with Morton Village Society chair David Flaherty, says: "We’ve worked with district councillors for ages trying to address the issue, but nothing has improved.

"The police have also been involved, and their speed checks have found that loads of people are speeding.

"It’s so dangerous, particularly as the village has narrow roads that wind past a pub, shop, the institute and a primary school. We are really worried that someone will be seriously injured, or worse."

The village society, an umbrella organisation representing several community groups, is backing the petition.

Mr Flaherty says: "Victoria has worked with the councillors and council officers to increase signage, introduce more road markings, cut back foliage covering signs and to repair the automated sign that flashes when people are speeding.

"Unfortunately it’s not enough, so our petition calls on Bradford Council’s highways team to develop a suitable and effective traffic-calming design throughout all of East Morton’s 20mph route.

"We hope that traffic-calming additions will deter unsuitable HGVs and slow down drivers speeding through our village.

"We want funding to be allocated now, before one of the speeding lorries, vans, cars or motorbikes causes a serious accident. People should be able to walk through the village and cross the road and feel safe doing so."

District councillor Caroline Firth, whose Keighley East ward includes the village, supported the development of the petition.

She says: "District councillors are very much aware of the strength of feeling about speeding from residents in East Morton, and indeed across Keighley. We’ve tried a few times over the years to bring in traffic-calming measures but unfortunately couldn’t get agreement from villagers about it.

"Meantime we’ve been working hard with residents, the council and police to get trees cut back, add extra signage and send out speed guns, amongst other actions, but it hasn’t deterred speeding drivers. The last time we consulted villagers about speeding and got no clear result, we said we'd ask again in a couple of years. This resident-led petition is a great way to do that."

The petition is available at the community shop until October 6.