SPEEDING motorists who use

a housing estate as a short-cut are endangering lives, say residents.

People living in Sunnydale, Shildon, say that someone could be killed unless urgent action is taken to prevent drivers speeding along their street.

The chairman of Shildon Sunnydale Residents' Association, Andrew Bowman, said: "These people are flying about and treating the road like a racing track.

"They have no fear or concern for the safety of anyone other than getting from A to B as quickly as possible. A lot of the residents have expressed fears for the safety of the children.''

Mr Bowman said the problems started when a mini roundabout was installed in the town, next to the King William pub.

He said: "They are turning off at the top of Cheapside, through Foundry Street, where cars are double parked, then they come flying through Sunnydale."

Mr Bowman said the association had written to Durham County Council and local Councillor Keith Henderson to request some sort of traffic control measures.

One proposal is to turn Sunnydale into a cul-de-sac to stop cars driving through completely.

Mr Bowman said: "To turn Sunnydale into a cul-de-sac would be the cheapest option, but it would mean a lot of people having to agree to closing the road.

"All we have done is written to the council to say 'please do something before someone is hurt'. This is a residential area, not a race track.''

A spokesman for the county council said it received hundreds of requests for traffic control measures every year and because there was a limited budget, each one was considered carefully.

He said: "This particular request for traffic calming is currently on the list of the relevant local member and is also on the list of potential schemes which will be considered for funding through the overall Durham County Local Transport Plan Shildon Package, due to start in 2003.''