A GROUP of volunteers who are trying to get speeding motorists to slow down through their village have been showing the Mayor of West Devon their work. For the last three years, Lydford Community Speed Watch has been regularly monitoring the speed of passing cars, lorries and motorcycles using special equipment supplied by Devon and Cornwall Police. Vehicles exceeding the speed limit are referred to the police with the aim of educating drivers and signs are displayed during the monitoring to raise awareness, and act as a deterrent. West Devon Borough Council's mayor, Cllr Christine Marsh, spent time with the volunteers recently to find out how their efforts are helping to improve safety on local roads. Cllr Marsh said: 'This is the only community speed watch initiative in West Devon and the volunteers should be congratulated for improving the quality of life for local residents. 'I was fascinated to find out about how they use the speed detection equipment and how even their presence at the road side is making drivers think twice about how fast they are going.' Speed Watch volunteers are vetted by the police before being accepted and given appropriate training as well as ongoing support. Speaking for Lydford Community Speed Watch, Barbara Greig, said: 'We are grateful to the mayor for paying us a visit and hope it will help raise awareness of our vital work. 'There is a very real problem with excess speed on the A386, especially at Vale Down on the outskirts of the parish, where residents have great difficulty in entering and leaving their properties due to the speed of vehicles and motorbikes. 'We also support Lyford Parish Council in its appeal for the speed limit to be reduced to 20 mph through the village centre, which has no footpaths to speak of. 'Our aim is not to punish drivers but to highlight the dangers of speed before a tragedy happens.' Lydford Community Speed Watch is currently looking for more volunteers and anyone interested should get in touch by emailing [email protected]">[email protected] l Pictured left to right: Ralph Ellington, Cllr Christine Marsh, Barbara Greig, Tony Wroath and Buzz Goscomb on the lookout for speeding drivers.