VILLAGERS are complaining to the Local Government Ombudsman after their call for a lower speed limit was rejected.

Durham County Council's highways committee decided in the summer not to reduce the maximum speed on the A167 through Chester Moor from 70 to 50mph.

The dual carriageway splits the village and residents say they take their life in their hands trying to cross the road.

The Chester Moor Community Group lodged an official complaint with the council about the decision after it lobbied for a lower limit.

The group said it was inconsistent and breached the council's own policies and Government guidance.

The group maintained no other community of that size was split by a road with a 70mph limit.

The council has rejected the complaint and the group is now asking the Ombudsman to look at how the decision was reached.

Chairman Peter Lawson said: "The council's response was from the same officer who sat on the committee and advised it.

"They haven't come up with an explanation as to why they haven't complied with their own strategy.

"Basically the council rejected everything that we complained about and didn't find in our favour on a single item."

Mr Lawson said there was no crossing to enable residents to access facilities, including a children's playground, on the opposite side of the busy road.

The group is urging villagers to vote against the unitary county option for the shake-up of local government in the referendum on the North-East assembly.

Mr Lawson said: "The experience of this community leads us to believe that single authority based on the current county would be a disaster for local democracy."

Coun Sonny Douthwaite, chairman of the Highways Committee, said: "The county council considered the action group's request entirely properly and while we are happy to provide the Local Ombudsman with whatever information is necessary, I am sure that, having examined all the evidence, she will come to the same conclusion.

"As regards the action group's decision to vote in favour of three unitary councils because the county council rejected its plea for a reduced speed limit, I have to say this is a somewhat petulant reaction.

"There are far more important and wider ranging issues to take into consideration when weighing up how to cast your vote in the forthcoming referendum than just not being able to get your own way."