A SCARECROW has slammed the brakes on speeding motorists in a North-East village.

The scarecrow - built as part of a village competition - looks like a policewoman holding a speed camera.

And since it appeared, the number of drivers speeding through Middleton-in-Teesdale has slumped.

But villagers reckon the County Durham scarecrow looks so lifelike that drivers hit the brakes before they realise they have been had.

Perhaps the dummy is a little bit too realistic. Last week, someone crept along in the dark and knocked its head off its shoulders.

But creator Stella Anderson soon had the scarecrow looking its best once again.

Mrs Anderson said: "Folks round here reckon it's the best traffic calming measure we've ever had."

* The Tories have promised to review the use of all speed cameras in England and Wales as they accused the Government of "waging a war on drivers".

If they come to power they plan to withdraw "cash-guzzling" cameras where the accident rates have not fallen.

Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Damian Green said the Conservatives' measures would be "on the side of the responsible driver".

The Tories claim that the Treasury received more than £15m from fines last year, with millions more going to 42 safety camera partnerships, which administer the cameras and fines.

The party plans to audit all 5,000 speed cameras to gauge the effectiveness of saving lives.

Its road transport proposals also include reducing the speed limit to 20mph near schools and hospitals, and an increase on some motorway stretches to 80mph.

Unclear signs will also be tackled, with the party arguing that motorists are often confused about how fast they can go on some roads.

More traffic police on patrol will tackle criminals in cars, rather than relying on cameras to identify "rogue drivers" who are driving without a licence, insurance or tax.