MORE volunteers are being sought to act as a deterrent to speeding drivers in villages near Carlisle.

There have been a number of complaints of speeding in the Dalston area but it's speed watch numbers have dwindled to just three active volunteers.

It's hoped more people will get on board to encourage drivers to slow down in their area, which is a 30mph zone. Those who are already trained are being called on to lend their support back to the scheme.

PCSO Graham Kirkpatrick, who covers the Carlisle west rural area, said: “Dalston is no different to any other village. Everyone has concerns about the speed which traffic is going through their location.

“Dalston is unique in that it gets a lot of extra through traffic because of the A595 and the motorway. There is probably a little bit more traffic and a few more people who don’t really have that community spirit that the residents would want with regards to going through at the right speed.

“Dalston is somewhere we get a high number of complaints about speeding but we don't actually have the numbers of people that are willing to get out there and support us with the community speed watch team."

Mr Kirkpatrick said speeding is one of the biggest complaints but he said the force is upfront in that it has not got the time and resources to deal with the issue like they used to.

A number of Community Speed Watch Schemes, joint ventures between police, parish councils and the community, have been launched since 2017.

Volunteers, in pairs, use speed detection devices at selected locations. The speeds of offending vehicles are recorded and passed to police who send letters to drivers warning of the dangers of excessive speed.

Ideally, six people are required in each area and when numbers are up, speed watch has proven to be a successful deterrent. The newest group in Kirkandrews-on-Eden have said they have noticed a difference in their village.

Mr Kirkpatrick added: "Essentially we are trying to improve safety across the board on all the roads. It's not a massive amount of time, just a couple of hours here or there in a two week period when their team has the equipment.

"Whatever they can do will be a benefit. It's not about prosecuting it's about educating people."

Cumbria Police is also appealing volunteers for Roving Speedwatch, its latest initiative where people are based somewhere other than the village they live in.