THE safety of children is at risk after contractors accidentally removed speed humps on a busy road, claim residents.

In July, contractors began work resurfacing the top of Forest Road in Loughton, where it meets Earl’s Path.

During their work the contractors accidentally removed the speed humps which were placed there to ensure cars approaching the town slow to Forest Road’s 30 miles per hour speed limit.

Residents have been told by Essex County Council that the humps will be replaced but have not been provided with a date.

They claim that cars are now failing to slow down as they enter Forest Road, and fear that when school term starts next week children walking to the nearby Staples Road Junior School are at risk unless the council acts promptly to return the speed break.

Jaf Arpouran, 57, recently moved to the street.

He said: “The cars are going down here much faster now and it is quite dangerous.

“People seem to use the forest roads to test the speed of their cars and come to a populated area really quickly. You need to have good local knowledge to know there are kids going to school round here and that it is a busy street.

“We really need the speed humps replaced quickly, before term begins.”

Denise McKay, 60, lives near the corner the speed bumps have been removed from.

She said: “They definitely come down faster now. You can hear the engines.

“A lot of mums walk down here through the forest to the schools. There needs to be something there for the kids.”