A group of Moray villagers who resorted to using hairdryers as mock speed guns to deter speeding drivers claim the desperate measure has done its job.

The parents in Hopeman argued motorists were endangering their children’s lives by flouting the speed limit along the main B9040 road through the community.

As a consequence, several individuals took the law into their own hands by donning fluorescent jackets and pointing the electric items towards the road from their gardens, mimicking police with speed guns.

And, a month after making their concerns public, it emerged yesterday the bizarre ploy had proved a success.

Heldon and Laich councillor, Dennis Slater, said the stunt had garnered attention from across the globe and spurred on police to carry out more patrols.

Mr Slater added: “We went national, then all of a sudden it went global.

“But it was always about trying to keep the kids safe.

“It has worked, I have noticed there are more police patrols in the area since it happened and that is all we wanted.

“We had kids out with us that morning with the hairdryers because we wanted to highlight that their safety was the most important thing.”

An action group has now been set up, allowing concerned residents to liaise with local police officers to discuss what else can be done to make the road safer.

Parents estimated cars were reaching up to 60mph on the one-mile section of the road towards Burghead.

Mum-of-three, Carmen Gillies, said her children had taken to drawing laminated 30mph signs to attach to lampposts as one way of keeping drivers’ speed down.

The 38-year-old said: “It might all sound like a joke, but these are the lengths we have to go to, so we can make sure our children are safe.

“People just don’t slow down.”

Mrs Gillies’ neighbour, Cath Lyall described the rude responses some youngsters had received.

She said: “Our children have started signalling to drivers to slow down and some of them have given the finger back – they think they own the road.

“They go really fast, they don’t slow down for children and then give them a look as if they shouldn’t be there.”