MEMBERS of a residents' association have called for action after car crash in Highcliffe forced the main road to be closed and left significant damage in the area.

The wall of the village nursery school and adjoining houses was destroyed as a result of a single vehicle crash in Lymington Road in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Following the incident, members of the Highcliffe Residents' Association (HRA) are calling for more speed restrictions and police presence in the village.

A statement from the group claims young ‘joy riders’ constantly speed up and down Lymington Road in the early hours of each morning .

Alongside the damaged wall, a large lamp post was hit and the pedestrian traffic lights were also affected.

The Old School building is owned and run by HRA. It is leased out to the Rainbow nursery school and for local community groups to use.

Mary Reader, HRA communications officer, said: “The police were in attendance for seven hours while Lymington Road was closed eastbound and have reported to me that they have insufficient manpower to police the street properly.

"Two years ago we had a petition of more than 1,000 signatures which was supported by Christchurch Borough Council to reduce the volume of traffic and speeding motorists.

"However, Dorset County Council told us that there isn’t a problem here. Each morning in the early hours I hear traffic speeding past and we also have other motorists who speed through Wharncliffe and other local roads for the pleasure of joy riding.

"It is understood that the driver of the car had no valid MOT or insurance and so we will have to pay for the wall to be rebuilt from our own funds.”

Two people were taken to hospital after the crash on Saturday, which involved a black Volvo S40.

It is understood the car collided with traffic lights and street furniture before going into the wall.

The road was closed for several hours between the junction of Wharncliffe Road to the A337 roundabout to allow for investigations to be carried out and for the area to be made safe by the local authority.