Campaigners believe the message about speeding on the A4 through Box is being heard by motorists, after a successful community speed check.

Members of the village’s Community Speedwatch were joined by local police and pupils from Box Primary School on Tuesday, to monitor the speed of drivers on the busy main road.

Anyone going over the 30mph limit was stopped by the police while the children showed them pictures they had prepared showing the effects of speeding near schools.

This was the second time an operation like this has taken place, since the group was formed last April.

PC Mandie Ball, of the Corsham Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “It went very well, there were less vehicles than last year, we stopped nine rather than 26, and the highest speed we recorded was 40mph.

“It was accepted very well by all drivers and many pedestrians walking past asking us what we were doing and saying what a good idea it was. One of the drivers said having the children tell him off was worse than getting a ticket.

“I think we had less this time because of the presence of the Speedwatch people being out so often; drivers are finally realising the limit’s 30.”

Jo White from the Box Community Speedwatch said: “It was good for the kids to be able to understand the dangers of speeding traffic, and what our concerns are all about.

“We’ve also managed to get a little bit of funding to buy high-vis vests for one of the classes. If they wear the vests all week we give them a little badge, which we hope will encourage them to want to wear the vests on the way to school.

“We just launched that on Monday, and we’re already seeing a lot more orange in the village, which is great.”