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A family’s has divided Twitter after its message to Devon and Cornwall Police ignited a huge debate about road safety in Cornwall .

Tom and Katie Jones and their children, from Northamptonshire, are currently cycling around the UK on two wheels and recently made their way around the duchy in adverse weather conditions.

After a series of close shaves involving motorists who they say showed a lack of consideration and acted dangerously, a furious Tom decided to record a message to the constabulary which has now been viewed on Twitter 3,500 times.

Tom said: “We’re on the road this morning and we’ve got a quick video message please for the chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police.

“We’ve looked back at the video that we’ve shot on the A39 and A392 yesterday coming through your patch. We would love to know why on one of the busiest days of the summer for traffic coming in and out of Newquay we did not see a single Devon and Cornwall traffic car for our entire journey.

“We’ve got a lovely collection of videos of drivers behaving appallingly towards us yesterday, in particular a red Ford – untaxed, we’ve checked it – towing a caravan, nearly took out Katie and Ruth coming through Quintrell Downs. We’ve already asked on Twitter but we haven’t had a reply please will you get in touch with us, we don’t want to share the video publicly as this will prejudice the opportunity for you to issue a nip and to charge them and to take the matter to court.

“It is not fair that a family like ours is being intimidated off Devon and Cornwall’s roads. Please will you do something to restore our confidence? We’ll be riding through the county of through your patch for the rest of the day so if you’d like to come out and see us on the road and maybe come and have a look at the film with us and experience the conditions we’re putting up with bring an unmarked car and come and sit on the road with us for a little while.

“We’d love to see you because this a serious matter, road harm is a significant cause of death and this is just not acceptable. Yesterday, a busy day, you’ve got poor standards of driving and not a single traffic car to be seen and we don’t think that’s fair on families like ours.”

The message was picked up by chief inspector Adrian Leisk who replied: “Thanks for making me aware of this. I will task @RPTInsp to make contact as he is on duty tonight. Ironically all of our resources were working overnight in the Newquay area but not during the day. We are serious around protecting vulnerable road users.”

Inspector Si Jenkinson also responded, stating how the force has taken action against the identified driver.

He said: “Great to finally speak to you. I’m sorry for the difficulties you’ve experienced over this. The offending driver will be subject to a Traffic Offence Report which my officers have submitted today. I wish you all a safe and enjoyable onward journey.”

The family’s journey which has seen them cycle along busy main roads has attracted a range of responses with some accusing them of putting their young children’s lives at risk.

@WilliamsChaos tweeted: “Whilst i sympathise with this family seriously mate cycling along the A39 with two young children. You’re risking their lives, regardless of your right to cycle. That would be similar to me cycling down the A2 London / Kent or A13 Essex / London. With kids too bloody dangerous

The Jones family then responded by saying they were forced onto Cornwall’s main roads because of a lack of alternatives.

Sue Tate also replied, she said: “The weather yesterday was appalling to even be out in a car, let alone cycling with young children. At times visibility was shocking. I’m not saying don’t cycle but surely common sense would make you weigh up the situation, before putting your family at risk on the roads?

“I don’t know exactly what part of the county you were in but in fairness, the weather was dreadful for most of the day. We were at Boardmasters and left after a few hours due to the heavy rain and wind. Definitely wasn’t cycling weather and definitely not with small children.”

However, it wasn’t all negativity with @nickyjim73 tweeting: “It’s not going to change without people like you, well done you are setting your children the best example. The people making negative comments will reflect and make more informed choices in the future benefiting all of us. Thank you.”

Richard Stokes added: “Some of the comments on this post are appalling. Everyone has every right to be on the roads without being intimidated or worse. This country needs to seriously stamp out the increasing amount of dreadful dangerous driving.”

You can follow the Jones family's progress at @FamilyByCycle