A GARAGE owner concerned about speeding drivers through his village has come up with a novel way to slow them down.

Rodney Thorne is making motorists think there is a speed camera monitoring them after attaching a black panel to the back of a company van which has high-visibility markings.

He was prompted to act after seeing cars regularly break the 30mph limit through the village of Frampton, near Dorchester, and hearing concerns from his neighbours.

With the panel attached the vehicle looks similar to the ones used by the Dorset Road Safe Team which carries out camera enforcement at locations throughout Dorset.

Mr Thorne, who runs Frampton Garage, puts a magnetic peel-on black panel on his van when it is parked outside his premises in the village and says it has helped to reduce speeding.

Over the years he said he has replaced nearly 20 wings mirrors on cars parked near to his garage.

Mr Thorne said: “We noticed that people were commenting ‘your company van looks like a speed camera van’ and so we thought we go one step further and make it even more like one.

“We peel the panel off when we use the vehicle for errands around the area.”

Parish councillor Stephen Hebb said: “It’s been a real problem in the village with many motorists driving just too fast.

“The guys in the garage have done a great job of deception and slowed down the traffic for sure.”

Villager Colin Pooke added: “Now the secret is out, I don’t think that drivers can ignore our dummy van as they drive through the village, for it may be that the actual police road safety team camera van is there and not ours.

“They do park theirs in a similar position to where Rodney parks his.”

Road Safety Education Manager for Dorset Highways Robert Smith said: “Provided the cosmetic changes to the vehicle do not breach any laws, the van isn’t causing an obstruction and/or displaying any misleading signage (such as a safety camera symbol) we don’t have a problem with this specific person’s idea.

“We’d be interested in seeing evidence that it’s having the positive effect of keeping traffic speeds within designated limits, which can only be a good thing for all road users.”