YOUNGSTERS from Hawksworth have carried out their own survey about traffic problems in the village - and plan to send the findings to their MP.

Pupils at Hawksworth C of E Primary School in Main Street conducted the survey as part of their geography studies.

They found problems with houses crumbling due to heavy lorries, speeding traffic, unsafe and too narrow footpaths with overhanging hedges and residents who did not feel safe walking through the village.

Some residents admitted to being kept awake at night by traffic noise.

All the villagers questioned agreed that there should be a bypass over Hollings Hill between Bradford Road and Hillings Lane and the majority of parents at Hawksworth were in favour of speed bumps to slow traffic down.

Parents also said a car park would be handy and earmarked two sites on Main Street next to Hawksworth Hall and directly opposite as possible parking areas. There were also votes for speed cameras, traffic lights, lollipop lady and a zebra crossing.

In addition, pupils conducted speed gun tests with the police on Main Street. Eleven-year-old Harriet Sweeney from class three said: "We have now realised that people are speeding through the village at far over the 30 miles an hour limit.

"We have interviewed the villagers and they discussed speed cameras, speed bumps, a bypass, zebra crossing, car park and traffic lights. The majority of people chose speed bumps."

Problems with hedges hanging over footpaths were partially solved by the pupils. Residents had claimed they were being forced out into the road because of the hedges.

Harriet added: "We managed to make a little difference along the footpath. Some of the villagers have now cut their hedges back."

Pupils also found out that the busiest times of the day were between 8.50am and 9am due to parents dropping children off at the school.

Teacher Caroline Garnett, who had the idea, said all villagers had been surveyed and some had been interviewed by pupils on video.

"There is a section in the National Curriculum called 'should your high street be altered?' It is very congested with traffic in Hawksworth and so we took it from there.

"They recorded traffic going through the village at 20-minute intervals and have latched on to the idea that many villagers have of a bypass around Hawksworth. It has been an interesting and very valuable exercise."

The findings are due to be sent to Leeds City Council and MP Paul Truswell.

Milton Booth, chairman of Hawksworth Village Residents' Association, was one of the villagers interviewed.

He said: "The kids have done an enormous amount of work and have put a tremendous effort into it.

"They have come out with the conclusion that traffic is getting heavier in the village and that we need a bypass, which is something we have been pushing for.

"It has been a tremendous initiative. We think that traffic problems are particular to us in Hawksworth, but they are not, there are also problems in Guiseley and Otley and whether we will be able to solve it, I just don't know."