CALLS to implement a 20mph zone in Lockeridge as soon as possible have increased after walls and fences were demolished in two separate accidents on Friday morning.

At around 2.30am, a red Landrover Discovery bulldozed into the fence and gate of Randal Richards' West View Cottage in the main street, before driving off soon afterwards.

A few hours later, barely 20m from the first incident, a lorry drove into the old sarson wall of Dene Farm, sending chunks of stone flying down the road.

The lorry ended up dragging a large chunk of the wall to the entrance of Kennet Valley Primary School, which was later removed.

"Unfortunately I slept through it all but some of the neighbours who were woken up by it said it was an 'almighty' crash. Pretty much all of the fence has been destroyed, along with the gate. It was not a nice thing to wake up to," said the 68-year-old.

"I do not know how much it will cost but this is the third time now that my fence has needed to be repaired. Hopefully it will not be too expensive.

"This really shows how badly Lockeridge needs a 20mph zone. It is very lucky this was not in the day when the school children were about."

Parish councillor Jane Davies, who lives nearby, said: "I was woken by a screech of brakes and then the crash itself for the first incident. I then heard them drive off and other neighbours said they saw the driver return to pick up bits of the car that had fallen off, so he could not be traced, and then zoomed off again.

"Although it is very sad that this happened, it is a relief it was not in the day as it could have been far worse.

"Over the past year or so there have been a dozen crashes in the village.

"It needs to stop and I believe the only way to do that is with a 20mph speed limit. If people can contribute to making this possible that would be much appreciated."

Last month, Fyfield and West Overton Parish Council, which covers Lockeridge, put forward £3,000 to implement a 20mph zone in the village by raising its share of council tax by 10 per cent to pay for it.

This initiative has been gaining momentum ever since the death of Lockeridge man George Punton, 64, after he was hit by a car whilst walking his dog near Ivy Lane junction on November 21, 2015.

The police are looking into both incidents. Anyone with information should call 101.