A HIGH profile police campaign has been successful in cutting the speed of drivers through Chilton.

Residents say previous attempts at voicing their concerns to police about speeding motorists fell on deaf ears.

Then a survey carried out by the Sedgefield Community Force last year found more than half of cars in some parts of the village travelling above the speed limit.

Figures showed 55.1 per cent of cars over the limit in Cragside and 50.7 per cent in West Chilton Terrace. Backed by the figures, Chilton West Residents' Association again asked Durham Police for action.

As a result, police mounted a high-profile campaign between January 13 and February 9.

Traffic management officer Maxine Stubbs said: "The high profile presence involved numerous random visits by traffic patrol officers to the area.

"This was designed to encourage motorists to reduce their speed to an acceptable level while at the same time being in a position to deal with offending motorists when necessary.

"During this campaign officers found it necessary to verbally warn 77 drivers with regard to their anti-social behaviour, issue 17 drivers with an endorsable fixed penalty ticket and report a further driver for court action.

"While dealing with the issue of speeding an additional two drivers were dealt with for excess alcohol, one driver was charged with dangerous driving and a further person arrested for a non-traffic offence."

Miss Stubbs said the campaign had been very successful and added that officers would continue to pay attention to the area during routine traffic patrols.

Residents' association secretary Peter Crawforth said he believed drivers had cut their speed since the campaign.

"People do seem to be travelling at lower speeds down the road," he said. "We've knocked the police for so long and it's nice to see they're actually doing something.

"We've criticised them in the past for not doing anything, but they've pulled the stops out this time. As an association we're very pleased they have taken our complaint seriously and the figures do bear out what the community force said."