DESPERATE residents campaigning for traffic calming measures blocked a road off to highlight their cause.

They formed a human chain across the junction of Hillside and Commercial Street, Crumlin, preventing cars from passing for about an hour.

The protest caused tailbacks but residents came to an agreement with police, letting through a handful of cars every ten minutes.

In November last year, a petition of more than 70 names was submitted to Caerphilly County Borough Council but residents say it was not acted upon because officers said the area had a very low accident rate.

A new petition has now been gathered after several more crashes which residents claim were caused by cars speeding down the steep Hillside route that runs alongside Crumlin Primary School.

The most serious of the recent incidents occurred two weeks ago when 28-year-old Emma Rees was left bleeding and bruised after a car collided with the Vauxhall Cavalier she was in.

"Something has to be done about the cars coming down the hill because the drivers don't seem to have regard for the local people or their property," said Ms Rees from Whitethorne Street, Crumlin.

Mother-of-three Sara Williams, 31, also of Whitethorne Street, added: "It has always been a fast road but the council has argued that the accidents are not always getting reported.

"Hopefully they will take notice of us now and consider traffic calming because it is not safe for our children to play outside anymore." Crumlin councillor Vera Jenkins said: "I'm aware of the problem they are having in that part of Crumlin and I think they have a very valid argument to get traffic calming.

"There have been several nasty accidents and with it being right next to a school and on a very steep hill where people don't adhere to the speed limit, it is obvious that something needs to be done - and done before somebody is killed."

No-one from Caerphilly council was available for comment.