DRASTIC action looks set to be taken to stop speeding motorists using a town's roads as a racetrack.Councillors in Sudbury say action is need to slow down the "boy racers" before someone is seriously injured or killed.

DRASTIC action looks set to be taken to stop speeding motorists using a town's roads as a racetrack.

Councillors in Sudbury say action is need to slow down the "boy racers" before someone is seriously injured or killed.

They now look set to purchase their own speed gun and carry patrols at speeding blackspots.

Members of the town's highways committee have already approved the plans and the idea looks certain to get final approval when it goes before the full council tonight

The controversial scheme will see councillors, armed with the speed gun, taking it in turns to go out and patrol trouble areas.

Areas that have been nominated for patrols so far include Market Hill, Gainsborough Street, Melford Road and Ballingdon Street.

Councillors will use the gun to track speeding motorists and then pass the details onto the police.

It is hoped the scheme will help deter the fast drivers and also help the police to detect the drivers who break the speed limit.

Town clerk Sue Brotherwood said: "I can confirm it will be the councillors and not council staff who monitor the traffic.

"The highways committee has already approved the plans and we expected it to be ratified by the full council tonight. Several councillors have agreed to use the gun to monitor the speeds. The councillors will have no powers of arrest so all they can do is monitor the situation and pass the information to the police."

Councillor Ray Smith has applauded the idea, he said: "I am more than willing to go out with this speed gun because we get inundated with complaints about boy racers and speeding motorists.

"I think this scheme would be a good deterrent to drivers and we can pass information onto the police so they can keep an eye on the problem areas. The police are struggling for manpower and this is one way we can support them. "If we no nothing I think one of these boy racers will seriously hurt someone before too long."

Insp Louisa Pepper, of Sudbury police said: "Any information passed on to us from the council will not be enforceable, but we would welcome the information and statistics they can provide. We could then carry out our own survey and assess the speeding in a certain area.

"If it is felt necessary we could then work with the council to introduce traffic calming measures."