Straw police officer slows traffic

Villagers in Cumbria are crowing about how a scarecrow dressed as a traffic policeman has managed to deter speeding drivers.

The effigy on the B6318 in the village of Crosby-on-Eden wears a full police uniform and even carries a ‘speed gun’ made out of a plastic bottle.

Drivers worried about suffering a speeding fine and a hike to their car insurance premiums have been putting a brake on their speed once they clock the imposing figure from afar.

The village of just 500 people has a 30mph zone but the local parish council said it has had numerous complaints about cars driving too fast.

The scarecrow is thought to be the handiwork of a retired policeman living in the village and was put up, along with several others, as part of a Bank Holiday weekend event to raise money for the local church.

David Farrar, who runs Crosby Moor Garage in the village, said: "It’s getting a good reaction from the locals and it’s slowing the traffic down."

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