VILLAGERS are worried that speeding drivers are not only endangering lives, but also shaking their homes.

Vibration from lorries in Church Lane, Colden Common, is causing pictures to fall off the walls in some houses where residents have spent several years campaigning to reduce the speed limit.

However, it has yet to be changed, and villagers are losing patience with highways chiefs.

As a result, around 30 blocked the road briefly today (November 20) to make their point.

Church Lane is the only road in Colden Common without a 30mph limit. Residents had expected one to be introduced last year, but are still waiting.

Villagers added that motorists often exceed the current 40mph limit.

Barbara Kelly, from Church Lane, said: "Many drivers, particularly motor-cyclists, break the speed limit.

"Residents regularly grit their teeth when a motorbike screams down Church Lane at more than 70mph, holding their breath lest a child tries to cross the road, or a horse and rider, or mother with a buggy or an innocent dog walker. The situation is worsening daily."

Guy Pritchard-Davies, who has lived in the lane for 10 years, added that it was prone to accidents.

"I've had a motorbike come through into my garden once. I brought the rider into my house and phoned an ambulance while he was bleeding all over my carpet."

He added that the road surface was a major concern. When lorries went by, the vibration was enough to dislodge pictures from the wall, he said.

Steve Brine, Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Winchester, is backing the residents' call for action.

He said: "I am already speaking with the police about enforcement because a new 30mph sign is only half the battle as we know from elsewhere in the area.

"This stretch of road needs a new 30mph limit now but it also urgently needs repairs to the increasingly dangerous and uneven road surface."

Winchester City Councillor Cecily Sutton, Lib Dem, has campaigned for the lower speed limit for several years.

Her party colleague on Hampshire county council, Cllr Peter Mason, added: "This has been going on for five or six years, if not longer. The road surface is appalling."

A county spokeswoman said the 30mph limit was due to be introduced before April.

She added: "There are no plans to have Church Lane re-surfaced this financial year 2007/8.

"We have previously put this road forward for consideration for funding but other roads have been given priority.

"The next consideration will be in March 2008, and again its success will depend on the rating the road is given, and whether it is great enough to be allocated funding.

"That said, we will be sending a highways engineer to visit the site to look at the road undulations to see if patch repairs can be done."

*What do you think? Do you live or drive along this road? Do drivers travel too fast? Add your comments below.