FLYING cars landing in gardens are making residents of one south-east London street afraid to step outside.

There have been nine accidents at the junction of Copers Cope Road and Worsely Bridge Road in Beckenham since November 2005, with five landing in one garden.

They were caused by cars speeding over a traffic-calming table - a long, raised speed hump with a flat section in the middle and ramps on the ends.

Residents say there were also six similar incidents from 2001, when the speed table was installed, to November 2005.

On May 6, a Jaguar landed in the garden hedge of Worsely Bridge Road resident David Hamilton.

A month earlier, a car flew past him and landed in his garden while he waited at the junction.

The 39-year-old businessman said: "The cars hit the speed hump at such great speed they are taking off and landing in our garden.

"One car flew past me and missed me by 3ft.

"There was a woman with a baby in her car at the junction at the time.

"The garden is smashed up. I'm not even going out to try to clear it up.

"I'm not going to risk my life. We are petrified of going outside our house."

He added: "I have two young children. They are eight and nine years old.

"They used to stay here at weekends but they are frightened to come here now.

"We want to move out. We can't live here in constant fear of being killed."

Mr Hamilton and his partner Kerry Turner have been asking Bromley Council to remove the speed table and introduce alternative traffic-calming measures since they moved into their home 18 months ago.

They claim cars have been travelling between 70mph and 80mph.

Miss Turner first wrote to the council about the problem in February last year.

However, it was not until earlier this year someone came to investigate.

The 36-year-old businesswoman said: "The council said there was nothing it could do because the speed table falls in line with the Highways Agency's regulations.

"It wasn't until recently Copers Cope ward councillor Michael Tickner came out to see us.

"He came out in a posh sports car and was concerned about his car while we were talking.

"In the end he said We shouldn't really be standing on the corner should we?' He didn't feel it was safe to stand there."

Bromley Borough Roads Action Group chairman Roger Lawson says the council seems to be dragging its feet over dealing with the problem.

He added: "There are certain people at the council who believe speed humps are a good idea and even though they are causing major problems, they seem to be reluctant to do anything about them."

A council spokesman said: "The speed table was installed in 2001 because there was a cluster of accidents at this particular location.

"Since the table was installed, we haven't had any personal injury accidents.

"We have had complaints from the residents and are looking at a range of options which might improve road safety at this junction."

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