CHILDREN at Bickleigh on Exe Primary School joined police at the roadside last week to quiz motorists caught speeding through the village.

After finding out why police officers carry out both speed surveys and speed enforcement duty, Year 6 pupils then got the opportunity to use a police issue speed gun on passing traffic.

Operation School Speed Watch, carried out last Tuesday, clocked 34 vehicles going through the speed detection device with only one driver travelling in excess of the 20mph limit at the lane leading to Bell Meadow, Bickleigh.

PCSO Martin Malin said the initiative had been a "great success".

He said: "The pupils are invited to talk to the offending driver, asking a number of questions, one of them being: 'How would you feel if you knocked me or one of my friends over?'

"The female driver admitted to not concentrating due to listening to music."

PCSO Malin said this was a common reason for drivers not concentrating. More than half the vehicles surveyed went through the speed detection device between 10mph to 15mph.

Policing are planning similar operations in other areas.