A Cowling mother-of-two has called for traffic calming in the village, stating that residents are "dicing with death".

Christine Shearer says that in the last nine weeks, five dry stone walls on the A6068 Keighley Road have been damaged as a result of speeding motorists.

She also states there have been accidents as a result of motorists driving dangerously on the stretch to and from Glusburn's Dog and Gun pub, where the speed limit is 60mph.

She claims drivers often don't slow down when they hit the 40mph zone into Cowling, which also has some 30mph areas.

Mrs Shearer, who has lived at Raikes Hall Farm, Keighley Road, for the last five years, has raised her concerns with the police and has attended Cowling Parish Council and Craven District Council's South Craven Area Forum meetings to voice her fears.

She said: "Personally, I would like to see speed cameras along Keighley road, but I know this isn't going to happen.

"I would like to see a 30mph limit introduced all along the village and the sign moved down, encouraging drivers to slow before they get to the village."

Mrs Shearer, a keen horse rider, says it is "lethal" for her and her daughter to ride along Keighley Road, with motorists overtaking them at 70mph.

She added: "A lot of the speeding motorists are young lads from the area, they know the police never come.

"I don't think the authorities know where Cowling is. I just want someone to give us support. You just feel like you are wasting your time."

Cowling Parish Council chairman, Coun John Alderson said the council was in talks with North Yorkshire Highways to reduce the speed limit in the village to 30mph.

He said: "If Mrs Shearer puts energy towards this, that's fine. It is a bad road for idiots, not for anyone with any sense about them."

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Highways confirmed speed checks had been made in the village and that the department was in discussion with the parish council about reducing the speed limit in the 40mph zone.

Sgt Steve Scott, from Cross Hills Police Station said he was unaware of plans for traffic calming on the road.

But he added he was in the process of training his non-traffic police officers in using hand-held speeding devices to clock and fine speeding motorists in the area.

A spokeswoman for Craven District Council confirmed a letter it had received from Mrs Shearer was being dealt with.