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

People living in the village say previous attempts at voicing their concerns to police about speeding motorists have been ignored.

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

Figures showed 55.1 per cent of cars were travelling over the limit in Cragside and 50.7 per cent in West Chilton Terrace.

Chilton West Residents' Association wrote to Durham Constabulary asking for action, using the figures as evidence to back their request.

As a result, police mounted a high profile speed 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.

He said: "We've knocked the police for so long and it's nice to see they are actually doing something. We have criticised them in the past for not doing anything, but they have pulled the stops out this time. As an association we are very pleased that they have taken our complaint seriously and the figures do bear out what the community force said."