SPEED checks have been carried out in Starcross following complaints about vehicles in the area.

Officers from Devon and Cornwall Police Road Safety Team conducted the checks after concerns were raised by villagers about speeding traffic.

The checks come as the village is coping with the ongoing closure of the A379 and more than 400 people signed a petition for a vital Zebra crossing.

A spokesman for the road safety team said: ‘We have received reports of speeding vehicles in the Starcross area.

'Our speed detection officers were just down the road in Dawlish and paid a visit to Starcross.

‘They checked speeds on The Strand and also on New Road, just down the road from the local primary school.’

In total, 37 drivers were found to be exceeding the 20 mph on the road past the school.

The spokesman added: ‘Please respect the speed limit wherever you are driving, but in particular around schools.’

Meanwhile the A379 closure has been extended yet again until December 23.

The closure and diversions for traffic through the village roads has been ongoing for months while ‘urgent’ work on the Driftwood Inn, previously the Globe, is undertaken.

The work has required the closure of the main A379, causing serious knock-on effects with a huge increase in traffic.

County councillor Alan Connett says the further delay is due to ‘difficulties involved in repairing cob structures,’ according to Devon Highways.

He said: ‘I have pressed both Devon County Council and Stonegate, which owns the Driftwood, on the need to complete the work as soon as possible.’

There have been calls for Teignbridge Council to allow residents park in New Road car park while the work continues.

But the authority has refused saying it brings in about £500 a month plus a small number of parking permits.

There have also been issues concerning a number of wide loads, sometimes with caravans being relocated.

Cllr Connett said he had reported one specific incident to highways and an officer would be sent to check as a tree was damaged.

Cllr Connett has contacted the company involved as there was a branded unit on the back of the loader to ask why it came through the village rather than the alternative route Devon County Council has asked HGVs to use.

Often these are vehicles accessing new building sites in Dawlish.

He said: ‘I understand County Hall has contacted the house builders in Dawlish to gain their support to stop the earth trucks going through Starcross.’

Cllr Connett has also asked why two wide load lorries were used by a haulier working for a housing developer along New Road recently.

He was told this was due to conflicting information regarding the route for an abnormal road.

The developer said it had acted in good faith and that all due diligence had been taken.