High-visibility volunteers have taken to the road in the latest stage of a campaign to reduce speeding traffic in Norfolk.

High-visibility volunteers have taken to the road in the latest stage of a campaign to reduce speeding traffic in Norfolk.

Villagers in Coltishall, Buxton and Horstead have been armed with a speed gun to measure how fast vehicles travel through their communities.

On Saturday there was a noticeable reduction in speeding traffic passing through Coltishall as motorists took notice of the roadside gun-wielding residents and their bright jackets.

The specially trained volunteers are part of the police's new Norfolk Community Speedwatch scheme which was launched last month and involves parish and town councils to help slow down traffic in rural areas.

John Harding, chairman of Coltishall Parish council, said: “Like most other villages we do see a lot of vehicles driving far in excess of the speed limit. As a result of Saturday's action we all noted a reduction of speed through the village.”

If speeding motorists are spotted three times by the volunteers then their details will be given to the police, who will then set up their own speed trap to snare the miscreant drivers.

Random speedwatch checks will be made in the three villages during the coming weeks.