A PRIMARY school is urging motorists to slow down after one was caught speeding past at 65mph.

Main Street in Clanfield is a 30mph zone but police stopped 23 drivers for breaking the speed limit outside the school during a two-hour operation.

Clanfield Primary headteacher Robin Smith said: “I think drivers need to be aware of where they are and be aware of their speeds.

“They need to be aware there are potentially children crossing – it could be fatal.

“I didn’t realise drivers went quite so fast.”

He added: “It does concern me. We have got quite a busy road out the front of the school.

“We certainly don’t have a lollipop lady in place – we advertised for one but no one came forward.

“It is an accident waiting to happen.”

The school runs a cycling proficiency course and children are taught how to cross the road safely.

Mark Booty, West Oxfordshire district councillor for Bampton and Clanfield, said: “The road has certainly had speed problems, but 65mph is ridiculous and they should be prosecuted.

“If they were unaware they were doing 65mph through a village, going past a school just makes it even worse.”

He added: “The road through Clanfield has the speed limit well marked, so there is no excuse.

“It is my view if anybody is caught doing 65mph in a 30mph zone they should be banned but I suppose that is down to the court.”

The driver who was clocked at 65mph during the operation on Wednesday, May 8, was not charged by police as speeding is not an arrestable offence, but received a summons to appear before magistrates.

Twelve of the drivers caught were offered the option of going on a speed awareness course or paying a £60 fine and receive three points on their licence.

Six drivers were given a fixed penalty notice, £60 and three points on their licence, with no option to take a speed awareness course.

Five who were driving over 50mph have been reported to Oxford Magistrates’ Court.

Pc Mark Pilling, of Abingdon Roads Policing, said: “Most of the drivers we dealt with were from the surrounding villages.

“I am sure these drivers would not want people speeding past their homes and local school, so we ask them to please be courteous and abide by the speed limits.”