ANGRY residents living along a busy road into Okehampton are calling for a cut in the speed limit before someone is seriously hurt.

Brightley Road residents say the B3217 has become increasingly busy in the last few months with many drivers treating the road as a race track.

The residents have formed a campaign group called BRAG ? Brightley Road Action Group.

Spokesperson Mandy Harrison said although there had been previous attempts to have the speed limit on the road reduced from 60mph, the situation was now so bad that action had to be taken.

?We feel it is now time to present a united force and bring pressure to bear on Devon County Council to lower the speed limit to 40mph or, even better 30mph before someone is killed,? she said.

Mrs Harrison said the road was well used by people enjoying leisure pursuits such as cycling, jogging and horse riding as well as by youngsters walking to and from school.

She said if the speed limit could be lowered, then the police could control and perhaps catch some of the motorists who were travelling too fast along the road.

BRAG have put together a petition which has almost 200 signatures from residents and road users. It will be sent to Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council and on to the county council.

West Devon borough councillor James McInnes has got behind the campaign to extend the speed restrictions beyond the pie factory and along Brightley Road.

He said: ?It is most important. Cars come out of Okehampton and drivers think they can put their foot down.

?There are a lot of houses along the road and it is very twisty in places. There have been a number of accidents.?

Cllr McInnes said speeding along the road had been a problem for a number of years, and was something residents wanted tackled.

?I chose to walk along there and I soon found out what it was like. It is horrendous trying to walk along the road.?

Cllr McInnes said he recognised the main argument from the local authority against a change would be on cost grounds, but said BRAG members were determined to get the speed limit altered.

?Everybody is speaking with one voice, and I think the county council has to take notice of that voice,? he said.

Anyone who would like to add their name to the petition is asked to contact BRAG on 01837 53315.

County councillor Christine Marsh said she was fully supportive of the action group?s campaign.

She understood there was an urgency for something to be done, and she had asked for the issue to be put on the agenda of the next West Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee meeting due to take place in November.

?It is getting dangerous down there. There are more and more children walking along the road from home to school.?