RESIDENTS have been threatened with legal action after staging a protest which they claim could save lives in their road.

They placed wheelie bins in the street to stop it being used as a rat-run and to prevent workers from nearby premises parking there.

But now Poole council has warned them their actions will not be tolerated.

Those living in Raleigh Road, Benbow Crescent and the Wallisdown Road Service Road received letters from Transportation Services Enforcement Officer Nigel Young who said: “Such actions are obstructions of the highway and are totally unacceptable and illegal.

“No legal action has yet been commenced and the opportunity to remove all obstructions should now be taken immediately.

“The situation will be monitored and inevitably the response to any future offences will be less tolerant.”

Residents said they cannot see when they are pulling out of their driveways due to the number of parked cars and said cars speed along their roads during rush hours.

Jon Cant, who lives in Raleigh Road, said residents are unhappy about the letters from the council.

“We consider this as a peaceful protest towards the safety of children in our road” he said.

“People are furious that they’ve been threatened like this. There are elderly people living on their own who have been quite scared by it – it’s over the top.”

Mr Cant said residents are currently planning a meeting where they will discuss what to do next.