ANGRY residents in South Oxhey are calling for traffic calming measures to be introduced along Prestwick Road after a speeding motorist smashed into five parked cars earlier this month.

Mrs Elaine Fayer, who lives in the road, said she and her neighbours want something done to slow down drivers after their cars were damaged by the hit and run driver on Saturday, April 15.

The incident happened at about 10.30pm and Mrs Fayer said if her family had not returned home from an evening function early, her children could have been in the car at the time of the incident.

Police officers were called to the scene and 15 minutes later were told a car had been abandoned in nearby Bowring Green, which they suspect was involved.

So far officers have been unable to trace the registered owner of the car, which had one of its number plates ripped off with the force of the impact.

The mother of three young children, Mrs Fayer explained the stretch of road where she lives is notorious for speeding motorists, and several people have been knocked down by cars while crossing it in recent years.

She added that a petition, signed by residents, was given to Three Rivers Highways Partnership almost four years ago asking for traffic calming to be introduced in the road.

A second petition is currently being compiled.

Mrs Fayer said: 'What the council wants us to do is use our cars parked on the road to slow traffic down, but it's not good enough.'

She added that cars parked along the road were constantly getting their wing mirrors knocked off by motorists, and some drivers had begun to park on the grass verges to avoid this happening - something Three Rivers Council objects to.

Three Rivers District councillor Mrs Nena Spellen backed residents calls for safety moves and said the road was on the agenda for discussion by the highways partnership this financial year.

However, before any work is carried out, a feasibility study must be carried out and any work needed would be dependent on available finances.

Mrs Spellen said: 'I know there have been complaints and something definitely needs to be done along Prestwick Road and Ashridge Drive, which is used as a rat run.

'If only people would have a bit of patience, they zoom around and don't care about other people's property.'

Mrs Spellen added that grass verges were also on the cards for work in the coming year.

The verges are due to be covered over with concrete, which allows grass to grow through and drivers to park on top.

* Anyone who may have information about the five car crash should contact Watford Police Station on 01923 472000, or visit Oxhey Police Station in Oxhey Drive.