Villagers knitted a ‘traffic cop’ to slow drivers. Two days later, it vanished

Villagers who are fed up with speeding motorists have knitted fake speed cameras and dressed life-sized mannequins as traffic officers, which locals say has left drivers hitting their brakes.

But one of the figures disappeared just two days after being installed in Fillongley, Warwickshire, leaving its creator devastated.

The Fillongley Knit and Natter group spent four months preparing the display, which appeared on October 13 following concerns about crashes near a primary school. Their creations include knitted hi-vis jackets, mock speed guns and an RAF airman positioned beneath a 30mph sign. Parish councillor Heather Badham, 58, said motorists appeared to mistake the figures for real officers.

“Since putting these up, we’ve been chuckling as people could see the man and thought he was real - you could see the brake lights going off,” she said.

“They see the camera and slow down, it probably did surprise a lot of people as we don’t have cameras there.”

The missing mannequin has particular significance for group member Deb, who created it in memory of her father. “The person in the blue uniform is an RAF officer, done by Deb in memory of her dad,” Heather said.

“We have recycled four or five people that were used for D-Day celebrations, so he means a lot to her. We’re hoping someone will bring it back.”

Another airman remains stationed on the other side of the village with a mock speed gun.

Knitted zebras decorate a crossing, while woolly tortoises encourage drivers to slow down. Knitted children hold a sign reading: “Kill your speed, not our children”.

The campaign follows 11 recorded accidents in four years at the Nuneaton Road junction, metres from a primary school. Resident Tom Docker, 42, praised the initiative.

“I certainly did a double take when I saw the one with the camera, I couldn’t believe it,” he said.

“They’re very effective, well-made and get people talking.”

Former lollipop lady Lorna Rosser, 66, wants permanent speed cameras installed. “The problem here is with the bends and people coming around them at high speeds,” she said.