Residents are demanding help to stop speeding drivers from crashing into their homes and risking their lives.

Campaigners met representatives of Braintree Council’s highways panel and Essex Highways in Colchester Road, Halstead, this week to raise their concerns.

Homeowners want to see traffic calming measures introduced, and better signs, to encourage drivers to slow down in the hope of preventing a serious accident.

Reckless drivers have destroyed the brick wall at the front of William Marsh’s house six times during the past decade and he lives in fear of one not stopping at the wall or striking a pedestrian.

“Until someone is injured it does not become serious to the highways department, which is ludicrous,” he said.

“We are trying to change things now so that somebody does not get hurt.”

Another resident, Janice Mann, said she returned home one day to find a car wedged in a bush outside her home.

She said: “If I had got home ten minutes earlier I would not be here now.

“I have had another car come around the bend and hit the lamppost outside mine. It ricocheted and hit my house.

“That would have gone through my window if it was going a bit faster.

“When you walk down your own road you feel you are taking your life in your hands – one day somebody will be hurt.”

Fellow resident John Everrett said he believed it was a speed issue. “People come from the junction and put their foot down and then hit the curb,” he said.

“There is a new estate being built and there will be more people using the road. If there is more people living here there is more chance of them being hit.”

Halstead Town Councillor Dave Gronland, the town’s representative on Braintree Council’s highways panel, promised to pursue the matter.

Mr Gronland said: “I understand residents’ concerns. I have been speaking about the issue with Mr Marsh for more than a year.”

Despite the fears there is a chance nothing will happen.

Mr Gronland added: “Our budget was cut in half about a year ago so now we have less money which is clearly an issue. There are clear technical criteria and presently I would say the road does not meet them.”

A spokesman for Essex Highways claimed most drivers obeyed the speed limit along the road. He said: “We are working closely with the town council to explore every possibility to improve reminders to drivers to abide by the speed limit and road conditions. We will let residents know as soon as we have any firm options.”