A TRAIL-BLAZING scheme to slow down motorists has been launched by a community armed with their own speed gun.

A 20mph ‘home zone’, the first of its kind in the area, has been set up in the Infirmary neighbourhood of Blackburn, giving pedestrians and cyclists priority over motorists.

But residents said there is still a major problem with people speeding through chicanes and other traffic-calming measures.

Volunteers are now being trained how to use a speed gun.

Any motorists caught speeding will have a police warning letter sent to their home.

Police said Mosley Walk is being used as a rat-run by drivers trying to avoid busy nearby roads.

Christine Connell, chairman of Ivy Street Community Association, said cyclists have been knocked over, and there are concerns that a pedestrian could be badly injured.

Sgt Paul Schofield backed the scheme and said speeding is the number one issue in that community.

The ‘home zone’ project is a way of ‘reclaiming’ local streets from a traditional domination by cars.

Despite road-calming measures being introduced, Mrs Connell said cars are still being driven at up to 40mph.

She said: “There are still a lot of people that speed through. Late at night they go so fast I can hear them from my home. The whole estate is now a ‘home zone’ and want people to know that pedestrians have a right of way in this area.

“We cannot accept people driving recklessly.”

Thirty residents are to be trained to use the speed camera and are set to begin using them on the streets shortly.

Mrs Connell said that in a recent short test several motorists were caught speeding over 30mph, including a taxi driver.

Sgt Schofield said: “The ‘home zone’ is about raising awareness, not prosecution.

“But people who are caught speeding by the residents will get a letter from the police.

“This is about empowering the community to take responsibility for their area.”