RESIDENTS of a leafy Preston village are campaigning to stop their area from being used a rat run where drivers race through at 80 miles per hour.

People living on or near Hennel Lane, Walton-le-Dale, have got together and produced a seven-point petition for a "better living environment", and within days, 119 people had signed up.

Hennel Lane resident Ray Singleton said: "The people of Walton-le-Dale feel like they've been neglected and we decided we have to do something about it.

"The roads aren't built for the convoys of tractors, and the speed cars travel at is dangerous, particularly for children crossing the road.

"It's an accident waiting to happen."

And he said a traffic survey by the police recorded vehicles travelling at speeds of 80 miles per hour.

The petition calls for an end to:

Speeding vehicles;

Convoys of tractors and HGVs;

Parking problems;

The rat run down Marlborough Drive.

It also calls for children to be able to walk to school in safety, and Hennel Lane to be made access only.

But their compaints about the roads go further than traffic issues, they say that when it rains heavily, Hennel Lane becomes a stream of raw sewage.

Mr Singleton said: "Some of the drains are still connected to the foul gutters and when it rains very heavily they overflow.

"It's a disgusting yellow smelly liquid that is absolutely awful.

Keith Dobson, also a resident of Hennel Lane, said: "The spray from the sewage is terrible and sprays the children when they are walking along the road.

"The grey tops on the drains are not big enough for the water to run down and they aren't cleared enough."

The residents have sent their petition to South Ribble Borough Council, the county council, United Utiliites and the police.

Local councillor Graham O'Hare said: "This has been going on for too long and it's about time something was done."

Ron Matthews, co-ordinator at the Eastern Area Committee meeting, on September 21, where the petition was handed in, said although he sympathised with the residents, Hennel Lane was a "significant link in the highways network".

He added: "With our partners in the police and county council we will be investigating the various issues raised and by working together with the community we will attempt to resolve their concerns."

A spokesman for United Utilities said: "We do recognise foul flooding in the street is unpleasant. However, we have secured money from next year's budget to launch an investigation into problems with sewer flooding in the Walton-le-Dale area, particularly in the area leading to our own site on Winery Lane."