ALARMING figures have shown that some motorists have been putting their foot to the floor and doing 100mph going into a village on the outskirts of Chard and Ilminster.

A speed indicator device, more commonly known as a SID, was installed by Donyatt Bowling Club from May 12-26 and statistics have revealed that two vehicles were clocked doing a ton.

A further ten vehicles were found doing more than 90mph, 41 doing more than 80mph, 150 more than 70mph and a whopping 911 over 60mph.

The figures back up growing concerns for people in Donyatt about the problems with speeding motorists and now the information from Somerset County Council confirms those fears.

The 40mph speed limit on the A358 through Donyatt is persistently flouted and statistics show that a large proportion of motorists go much faster through the village.

The council carried out speed checks involving 30,572 motorists over a fortnight period in May and found that nearly 26,000 of them were over the speed limit – with more than 7,000 topping 50mph.

Cllr Linda Vijeh, who represents that area at Somerset County Council, said: “The statistics seem to reinforce the general view in relation to serious traffic issues along that route.

“As it is, and particularly once the holiday period starts, this route is used as a bit of a rat run.”

Cllr Vijeh added: “There has been a similar situation on the road going through Horton where speeds of up to 70 mph have been recorded.”

The readings were made by the council with the use of a SID and showed that 52mph was commonly used by motorists going through what is a residential area.

Traffic engineer Dave Grabham said that the readings showed that Donyatt needed more attention and did have a “speeding issue.”

It should be noted that some of the speeding drivers may have been in emergency vehicles on their way to incidents.