SEVENTY-SEVEN fixed penalty tickets have been issued by police in a clampdown on drivers speeding through a village.

News of the action came as a parish councillor is heading a campaign to curb speeding drivers using a "rat run" through Bishop Monkton - between Knaresborough and Ripon.

Councillor Paul Heap took his campaign to combat speeding drivers to a meeting of North Yorkshire County Council's Harrogate committee.

He made a strong plea for higher priority to be given to traffic calming on the route, which has been the scene of accidents.

Villagers had hoped Bishop Monkton would get anti-speed measures, costing about £37,000, but the scheme has slipped lower down the priority list in recent months.