SPEED bumps on a Darwen street are failing to do their job, claim residents who say drivers speed past at 60mph on the 20mph stretch.

The Traffic calming measures are at the junction of Olive Lane, Sudellside Street and Anyon Street. Olive Lane was one of the first roads in the borough to have a 20mph limit imposed two years ago.

Coun Eileen Entwistle, of Sudell ward, campaigned for speed bumps, but residents are not convinced with the results.

John Walsh, 82, of Anyon Street, said: "Some people drive up and down this road like lunatics. Some go at 50 or 60mph. We have a lot of kids on this road and it's potentially very dangerous."

Karen Hussain, 28, refuses to let her six-year-old son out of the front door of their Olive Lane home on his own. She said: "It's so dangerous out there and the bumps don't do any good at all."

Coun Paul Browne said: "None of the speed bumps along that road do any good but nothing else can be done about it. Speed cameras are impossible because it's a residential area. Traffic islands should have been put there. They would force drivers to slow down and take notice."

Sudell neighbourhood watch co-ordinator Sue Freear said: "The bumps aren't working. Some cars slow down but the majority don't."

However, Coun Entwistle said: "Anything that could save just one accident that could potentially cost a life is a good thing. Inevitably, you will get people speeding along the road like anywhere else, but a lot of people take notice of it."

Adam Scott, Director of Regeneration, Housing and Neighbourhoods said: "The Council worked closely with residents and police when it introduced a 20 mph speed restriction and traffic calming measures including road humps.

Accident rates in the zone have reduced by 80 per cent and the average speed of traffic using the roads has been greatly reduced.

It is not possible to place speed cameras in areas where the speed limit is 20 mph as the legal minimum for camera enforcement is 30mph.

We will liase further with the police and ward councillors and local residents to see if there is anything further we can do to tackle this problem."