Families are demanding urgent action on a narrow, winding road where their pets have been killed or seriously injured after being knocked down by speeding drivers.

They fear that next time it could be a child who is the victim of an accident in Hollin Hall Lane in the village of Hopton, Mirfield.

Now residents want Kirklees Council to put down rumble strips, write 30mph on the road and erect bigger and better signs warning drivers they are approaching a sharp bend.

Eleven residents have signed a letter outlining the problems and sent it to Councillor Colin Fretwell (Con, Mirfield), who is to present it to the Council's highways and transportation committee on December 3.

Among them is mother-of-three Jayne Cook, of Hollin Hall Lane. Two of the family's cats have been killed and a pet Doberman was badly hurt after being struck by vehicles in the road.

She said: "Every resident round here with cats has had their pet killed or injured over the years. We are the ones who have to console our children when pets are killed.''

The residents say 32-tonne lorries and other vehicles hurtle along the 16ft-wide road, often at twice the speed limit, especially during the rush hour, and use it as a short cut.

Housewife Mrs Cook, who has four dogs and two other cats, said: "People forget this a country lane. Sometimes you can hear brakes screeching as drivers come round a corner because they are going so fast.''

She said the gate at the bottom of her driveway was kept permanently padlocked because of fears for the safety of her children, Jordan, ten, Milli, seven and three-year-old Lois, when out playing.

Neighbour Linda O'Donnell has had her kitchen roof repeatedly damaged by passing lorries. The last time was in March and she was left with a £500 repair bill.

She said: "It's horrendous. Every time I am in my kitchen I think a lorry is going to come crashing through.

"We've got a gas pipe running outside the house and I am worried one of these days it is going to be damaged by a lorry."

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