MOTORISTS speeding along the old A30 near Bridestowe could find themselves targeted by a speed camera held by residents.

It is part of efforts to draw up a clear strategy in the campaign to cut driving speeds on the road — part of the scenic West Devon Drive from Sourton Cross to Liftondown.

The residents, members of the newly formed Bridestowe Road Safety Campaign, aim to use a speed camera to target traffic between Stone Farm and Combebow, building a dossier of detailed information to present to Highways officials.

Members of the campaign group last Wednesday decided that as much information as possible was needed in a bid to make the road safer.

Neon Reynolds, who chaired the meeting, said: 'We have a dangerous piece of road and if a vehicle comes round the bends too fast then someone is going to be killed.

'We want to achieve safety for people riding horses and for children on bicycles.'

Mr Reynolds said: 'We must be prepared to look at every angle as to how safety can be achieved — we need a solid basis of facts in order to put forward proposals.'

He said one improvement needed was larger signs warning of riders near the entrance to Little Bidlake's Dartmoor Horse Trails.

Vanessa Pearce, who along with Sylvia Crocker initiated the campaign group, said a speed restriction would be better than traffic calming as it could be policed.

Mrs Crocker suggested footpaths would improve safety along much of the affected stretch of road.

Jonathan Whiteley stressed the importance of gathering as much information as possible to press the case for safety improvements from Stone Farm to the Ven Mill turning at Combebow.

The group agreed to make enquiries about obtaining a speed camera.

The campaigners are also to ask the Highways Authority to look into the installation of electronic signs warning speeding motorists to slow down — such as those in use at Sampford Courtenay.

And they want the police to look into prosecuting motorists for driving without due consideration for other road users.

West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett wrote to the campaign group saying he appreciated their concerns and that he had taken the matter up with Devon County Council's environment director.