RESIDENTS have called for an enforced speed limit on a "dangerous" road near Cookham which they say is capable of claiming lives.

The group of ten have said that Ferry Lane, which runs between Cookham and Bourne End, needs to be reduced from 60mph to at least 40mph.

Their concerns come in the light of several accidents, one just last month in which a car crashed into a resident's garden wall which runs alongside the road.

The car overturned onto its roof as a result, but fortunately the woman driver was uninjured.

Residents have now penned a letter to Buckinghamshire County Council requesting that the speed limit is reduced.

Brian King, of Ferry Lane, whose garden wall was hit in the accident, said: "There are three-quarters of a mile between Ferry Lane and Hedsor Road Bourne End.

"People with homes here are scared to back out of their driveways."

He added: "When it happened I thought a helicopter had come down.

"There was dust everywhere on the floor. Then I saw the car. It was awful."

The short stretch of road has a nationally recognised speed limit of 60mph from the end of Cookham Bridge heading towards Bourne End.

Residents say drivers speed up quite legally as soon as they leave Cookham and are forced to brake suddenly when they re-enter the 30mph zone increasing the likelihood of losing control.

In January, a telegraph pole in Ferry Lane was knocked down when a car came off the road and ploughed into it.

Mr King says his wall has taken endless knocks from passing cars and the latest accident has caused thousands of pounds worth of damage. Mora Carr, also of Ferry Lane, said there were further concerns about people walking along the nearby public footpath between Cookham and Bourne End who could also be at risk.

The county council said the road has been earmarked for proposals to change the speed limit.

However, this might not happen until next year since it is among many roads in the area listed for consultation.

Ian Reed, area co-ordinator for Wycombe, said: "It will be in line for a review to go down to 40mph. We are looking at next year.

"It will have to go thorough members who will produce reports and then through a public consultation."