MEMBERS of the public are set to catch speeding drivers following a number of accidents along roads close to a school.

Police are to introduce a scheme in Epping to train people how to use hand held speed guns in an attempt to slow down drivers.

The action comes after another accident happened at the junction of a road where parents are campaigning for speed restrictions to be installed.

The Guardian reported how parents of Ivy Chimneys school in Epping have been calling for measures to be bought in along the roads surrounding the school, following a car crash where one vehicle ended up with it's wheels on a wall.

Essex County Council said the area was not a priority for improvement because there was not a high accident rate.

But just a few weeks later, a motorcyclist was taken to hospital following a collision.

The man suffered facial injuries after falling off his motorbike when it struck a Ford Focus and Chrysler Cruiser at the junction of Brook Road and Bower Hill.

He was taken to hospital by ambulance and discharged after receiving treatment.

Now, police are passing over the responsibility of catching irresponsible drivers to members of the public.

PC Gary Harrington, Neighbourhood Support Officer for Epping said: "Following the recent accidents around Epping we are going to train people to use speed guns, which record a vehicles speed. They will then give the data back to us and we can fine them. Once we get enough people together we can show them how it works."

But residents of Bower Hill were not sure it would work.

Janet Wells, 69 said: "There is a problem with speeding round here and people do need to be stopped but the police should do that. People respect the police and understand it's their job.

"If someone living round here was catching speeding drivers god help them. It might not go down too well and I'm sure they will get a lot of abuse for it."

Amanda Barron, 38 agreed and said: "It's bizarre. It's not very nice if you catch someone you know. We all know each other and it seems a bit strange to ask local people to do something like that. I don't have the time to do it so I wouldn't offer."

Andrea Lucas added: "Cars do hurtle down the road. If the flashing 30mph sign was a speed camera that would work.

"But catching people out, especially mums on the school run will get people's backs up."

Alistair Fuller, 17 admitted that he sometimes drives too fast down the road.

He said: "I'm a bit of a boy racer, but I was blocked off by the crash the other day which was annoying.

"I think it's a good idea to catch people and I would consider doing it.

"There have been a few accidents round here in the last few years, and there's a lot of speeding, especially coming down that hill, you don't realise how fast you're going."

Anyone interested in taking part in the scheme should contact PC Harrington on 07779317211 or email gary.harrington@essex.pnn.police.uk.