A ‘TERRIFIED’ resident has launched a petition to stop speeding vehicles from putting children’s lives at risk in Weymouth.

Lucy Hamilton, of Wyke Regis, has so far gathered 100 signatures in support of her campaign for safety on Portland Road and will be presenting it to the borough Mayor Anne Kenwood today.

Administrative assistant Lucy, 48, said she was inspired by the Dorset Echo campaign to Drive Down The Death Toll.

She hopes to use people power to make Portland Road a safer place for both residents and passing drivers.

Lucy said: “It’s terrifying.

“In the middle of the night it’s like a country lane, there’s nothing there.

“And in the rush hour no-one can even go 30mph because it doesn’t move.

“But between those times people get happy because they’ve got out of a jam somewhere and they don’t seem to be aware that it’s a residential road.

“It goes right through a village and they don’t think that a few miles an hour extra will make a difference – but it does.”

She added: “The good news is that no-one has been killed yet but one child is one too many.

“One resident saw a school bus drop children at the bus stop opposite the church, where there is no pavement.

“As the designated route from Dorchester to Portland, this road can only get busier.

“Will it take the death of a child to make the council act?”

The petition has three main aims: n To reduce speeding on Portland Road, including between All Saints Church and Foords Corner n To improve visibility and safety for pedestrians crossing Portland Road between Chamberlain Road and the steps to Rodden Close and Lodge Way n To improve safety for pedestrians on the pavement on Portland Road between Foords Corner and Wyke Road by widening pavements.

Lucy first raised her concerns at her local Partners And Communities Together (PACT) meeting and was advised to start the petition.

She said: “So far I’ve got 100 signatures and I met with the mayor Anne Kenwood and she’s agreed to collect the petition and present it to the council’s management committee.

“My main concern is children crossing the road on their way to school and the shops, the very narrow pavements and the wiggle in the road where everyone likes to drive in the middle of the road.

“I’m sure cars are travelling more than 30mph down there and it's terrifying.”

She added: “It’s an issue for motorists as well as they’re often faced with other cars driving in the middle of the road.”

Lucy was due to present the petition to Coun Kenwood at 3pm today at Wyke Library and hopes other residents will attend the meeting to show their support.

Anyone wishing to sign Lucy’s petition can do so at the Old Wyke Village Store.