Speeding cars travelling through Sidbury will soon have to watch out.

Campaigners have launched the Sidbury Speed Watch Group, which is in the process of being validated by the police.

Once all the volunteers have been vetted, they will be trained so that they can start doing speed checks in the new year.

The plan comes after concerns were raised by data released by Devon County Council (DCC) in a freedom of information request.

A traffic survey was carried out for one week in April on Cotford Road.

It found that more than 30,000 cars passed through Sidbury in one week and that 88 per cent of those vehicles broke the 20mph speed limit.

More than 50 people attended the latest Sidbury Traffic Action Group (STAG) meeting on Wednesday, November 21 and discussed the findings.

The public meeting, held in the Village Hall, gave residents the opportunity to hear an update STAG’s activities, since it was created in April.

Among those who attended were Sidbury Primary School’s headteacher and PCSO Phil Thomas.

John Loudoun, of STAG, said residents welcomed the progress made to date by STAG but expressed concerns that the 20mph zone did not cover the whole of the village, that there wasn’t a lorry weight restriction through the village and that many of the road markings were worn.

During the meeting there were discussions about the installation of two electronic speed activated signs, which cost between £1,000 and £2,000, as well as the authority’s commitment towards helping them to be installed.

Speaking to the Herald after the meeting, County Councillor Stuart Hughes, who is responsible for Highways, said he would happy to contribute some of his locality budget towards one of the signs.

This would mean that residents would need to raise the remainder of the money themselves.

Cllr Hughes said: “I am delighted that Sidbury have now got a team together for the speed watch group.”

A county council spokesman said: “The data doesn’t really suggest that there’s a problem with speed in the village, but Cllr Hughes has said that he’d help with funds towards the cost of one vehicle activated sign.”