ANGRY residents fed up with speeding cars on roads near their homes and businesses can finally take action against the menace.

A new community speedwatch scheme has been set up to catch dangerous drivers at the junction of High Road and Jotmans Lane, in Benfleet, which has become known as Cemetery Corner.

Councillor Andrew Sheldon has been at the forefront of setting up the scheme, which will see volunteers given training to use speed guns to clock motorists in the area. Although the scheme cannot issue fines to drivers, they can be sent letters to inform them they were caught speeding.

Mr Sheldon said: “I have been looking into setting up a speedwatch for some time, but it wasaquite serious accident at the end of last year that really made me pursue it.

“This is a voluntary group and I really want to encourage people to get involved to make their roads safer.”

Jo Body has lived in the High Road for 42 years and has had numerous speeding cars smash in to the front garden of her property.

She said: “Something needs to be done.Iwould say there are maybe six accidents on this road every six months.

“We lie in bed at night and hear them come tearing past. People just travel too fast and do not realise how tight that bend is.

“We have had thousands of pounds of damage done to our garden and I worry one day they will come smashing into the house.”

According to figures from Essex County Council there have been three serious crashes at the site since 2009.

Figures obtained by the Echo last year showed about 40,000 drivers broke the 30mph limit in the High Road in a single week last May.

Police will provide the speedwatch team with their equipment and initial training