A CONCERNED grandmother has issued a stark warning that lives will be lost if drivers continue to speed down a residential street.

Joan Newton, from Millom, has launched a petition to introduce traffic calming measures in Mainsgate Road out of fear for children's safety.

The 59-year-old has already received plenty of support for the cause as more than 100 people have signed the petition so far.

Mrs Newton said: "I've been watching it for a couple of years but now I have a six-year-old granddaughter living over the road but I won't even let her come across on her own it's that bad.

"Children can't go out to play because the cars go like rockets.

"Lives are going to be in danger because of this - somebody is going to be killed."

Residents across Millom have rallied round Mrs Newton in support her petition to put speed bumps in the main road, similar to those already in place in the back street.

Another Mainsgate Road resident, Paul Minter, is welcoming the move after seeing how improvements were made behind his house.

He said: "The drivers are like lunatics. It's supposed to be 20mph down here but they go more like 60 or 70."

The road is a popular route to the beach which is hugely popular with families and young children across the town.

Parents continue to worry about the speeding and people across Millom are looking to the police to take action.

Millom mayor Doug Wilson said: "Speeding in our town is a persistent and dangerous problem. The police need to take a more positive approach to enforcement, otherwise there is no deterrent."

Residents have said that police officers have already visited the area and Cumbria's police and crime commissioner, Peter McCall, has been notified of the situation.

Mrs Newton said: "Everybody wants the traffic to slow down. I've notified the police on a number of occasions and last week I contacted the commissioner who said it could take up to 28 days to respond, but that's a bit late when a child has been killed."

Karen Cockwill, from Millom, signed the online petition and said: "The speeding on Mainsgate Road is terrible and it's only going to be a matter of time before a child is killed.

"It's a popular road for mams with prams and little ones on their bikes going to see the ducks.

"This needs sorting and the time to act is now before it's too late and a little one loses their life."

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