Residents fear a child could be killed by cars using their street as a speedway track.

People living on Bradford Lane, Laisterdyke, today appealed for the police and Bradford Council to take action over vehicles which, they claim, race on the street day and night.

The final straw came when a car spun out of control at 1.30am and demolished a brick gatepost on a driveway.

Mohammed Nadeem, who lives next door, said he thought the car had skidded after going round a bend.

"If the post had not been there it would have gone into the house," he said.

Mr Nadeem claimed that by the time police arrived the driver had abandoned the damaged car and made off.

"Sometimes it's just like a motorway, and they come up at 40 or 50 miles an hour plus," he said.

Mr Nadeem said as well as speeding, drivers were doing handbrake turns on to side streets off Bradford Lane.

The carriageway outside his home is covered with skid marks. Mr Nadeem has spoken to Bradford Council and asked if traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps, could be installed. He also spoke to police when they attended the crash.

Police confirmed officers were called at 1.38am on Monday, August 12, after a Honda Accord collided with a driveway wall.

"A disaster is waiting to happen." Mr Nadeem said.

His neighbour, David Barraclough, said: "It's very frightening for youngsters, we have got to keep our eye on them all the time."

Mr Barraclough said he was afraid to let his children go out to play. And he backed the call for traffic calming.

Ward councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq (Lab, Bradford Moor) said: "I think one of the major problems in Bradford Moor is cars speeding." He said he would speak to the Council's highways department.

Steve Thornton, Council senior engineer for traffic and road safety, said: "Residents who are concerned about traffic problems can contact us and we will investigate. If the problem is caused by cars racing, people need to contact the police."