Campaigning residents may use their own speed gun in a bid to slow down speeding motorists.

People living in the "Western Approaches to Gravel Road ratrun", in Eastwood, have launched a safety campaign to stop people driving dangerously fast in their neighbourhood.

Public meetings have been held and a 164-strong petition collected, but the next phase in the campaign could mean residents will use a speed gun to record how fast motorists are travelling.

The evidence collected will be presented to Southend Council to try to persuade councillors to implement road safety measures.

The area incorporating Western Approaches, Green Lane, Wren Avenue, Gravel Road, Eastwood Rise and Rayleigh Avenue is not currently high enough on Southend Council's list of priorities for action to be taken.

Campaigner Stephen Ryan, 44, of Wren Avenue, explained the idea was put forward by Tory councillor Andrew Moring.

The residents' campaign is still in its early stages and has not yet been named.

The next meeting will be held at the Eastwood Community Centre, Western Approaches, at 7.30pm on January 25.