DESPERATE villagers who resorted to using hairdryers as pretend speed guns to scare speeding drivers say their stunt has been a success.

Residents of Hopeman, in Moray, decided to take the law into their own hands after the 30mph speed limit was regularly being ignored.

In an attempt to deter the speeders, villagers took to the streets in fluorescent jackets and pointed the hairdryers towards drivers.

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A month on, local councillor Dennis Slater claims the move that garnered attention all over the globe, has been a success as police have stepped up patrols in the village.

Despite the move going viral the councillor claims it was a one-off event which was  never intended to reach the status it did.

He said: “It was a one-off thing. It is completely dead and buried now. It was great at the time because we got some coverage.

“We went national then all of a sudden it went global as well. I think it led to it being taken out of context a bit, actually. It was never about Dennis Slater the councillor. It was always about trying to keep the kids safe.

“It has worked, however, as I have noticed that there are more police patrols in the area since it happened.

“That is all we wanted. We had kids out with us that morning with the hairdryers because we wanted to highlight their safety was the most important thing.”

The councillor, who lives in the village and represents the Heldon and Laich ward, has also announced an action group has been set up with police in the area to discuss what else can be done.

Despite the controversy surrounding the idea, Mr Slater insists police did not ask him not to repeat it. He said: “We were never told by police not to do it again. I assured the police that it was a one-off incident, which they were happy with.”

At the time of the hairdryer stunt, mother-of-three Carmen Gillies, 38, said her children had been drawing laminated 30mph signs to attach to lampposts.

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She said: “It might all sound like a joke but these are the sorts of lengths we have to go to to make sure our children are safe. People just don’t slow down.”

Neithbour Cath Lyall said may drivers acted as if they owned the roads.
Mrs Gillies’ neighbour, Cath Lyall described the ignorant responses which kids had received.

She said: “Our children have started signalling to drivers to slow down and some of them have given the finger back - they think they own the road. They go really fast, don’t slow down for children and then give them a look as if they shouldn’t be there.”