There are 10 volunteers in Ringmer trained to carry out road checks

Villagers angry about speeding drivers have been given their own laser gun to act as a deterrent.

Volunteers armed with the device will record the registration numbers of motorists zipping through Ringmer, in East Sussex and then pass them on to police.

Officers will send warning letters to drivers who exceed the 30 mph speed limit and have promised to target repeat offenders.

The Community Speed Watch initiative is being run as a three-month pilot by Sussex Police.

The 10 volunteers, who will wear fluorescent jackets to make them visible on the roadside, have been given training by police to carry out the checks safely.

Villagers will pass the details of speeding cars on to police

They are members of Radar (Ringmer Against Drivers Acting Recklessly) and include an actor, an architect and a retired builder.

Joint chairman Bryn Bridges said: "We would like traffic that comes through Ringmer to do us the courtesy of respecting our village way of life and obeying the speed limit."

According to police figures, Ringmer has not suffered from a large number of accidents where people were hurt - there were only three last year.

But residents do feel their quality of life is affected by speeding drivers.

Other areas in Sussex may start the laser gun scheme later this summer if it proves successful in Ringmer.

East Sussex County Council is also running a road safety and anti-speeding campaign.