COUNCILLORS have backed angry locals who claim nuisance drivers have turned a residential road in Bradford into a race track.

Worried residents are determined to see a crackdown on speeding motorists plaguing The Avenue, Clayton - and some are concerned that someone will be killed before anything is done.

They told of drivers using the wrong side of the road to race other cars and insist the village as a whole has yet to see any benefits from the police's Operation Steerside that has been targeting bad driving across the district.

One resident, who did not want to be named, said: ""The Avenue is like a race track and it is dangerous. It is not safe.

"It is 30mph on there. When they come past it sounds like they are doing 100mph, but I would say there are people doing 50mph or 60mph during the day.

"Somebody will be killed before they take it seriously. We have been campaigning in this village to have at least a crossing halfway.

"I know someone who is moving out of Clayton because of the idiots that drive on the roads round here. All we want is to be safe."

Councillor Michelle Swallow (Lab, Clayton and Fairweather Green) said: "There are these people in the minority who spoil it for everyone. They are just not following the rules of the road.

"Crossings and islands cost a lot of money, but the only people who will abide by them will be the people who follow the laws of the road. People who flagrantly disregard the rules of the road, it would not stop them.

"People need to follow the rules of the road and have some personal responsibility."

She added: "If we all give up, the place will get worse. We need to get the message out there to everybody that this could be your mum, grandma, sister or brother - do you really want to be the person responsible for ruining lives, potentially your own?"

Cllr Swallow said she would speak to West Yorkshire Police about static speed cameras.

Cllr Carol Thirkill (Lab, Clayton and Fairweather Green) said: "It is dangerous at the moment. It is an issue and we are working with the police to see what we can do to solve it. The police are aware and it is constantly monitored.

"It is mainly at night. Late on you get the idiots racing up and down there."

When asked about the possibility of traffic islands, Cllr Thirkill said: "We have looked at it many times, but because of the number of drives, there is nowhere to put traffic islands. We cannot just put a traffic island anywhere."

Another resident added: "It is like Brands Hatch up here - I don't feel safe. And there are women and children walking up there trying to cross the road."