An Undercover Scarecrow Is Being Used To Slow Down Speeding Motorists

There are few among us who like speed cameras - because who likes a grass honestly, particularly one who gets you fined too?

But while it can't be denied they are effective when it comes to slowing down traffic, they also come at a cost, and councils can be reluctant to install them... which is where one pensioner's budget substitute comes into play.

Edie Pope, from Sefton, UK, initially asked for a speed camera to be fitted on a dangerous stretch of road where numerous crashes had taken place.

But when her request was rejected, the 71-year-old took the ingenious step of making a scarecrow and disguising it as a police officer, complete with a hi vis jacket, wig and policeman's hat.

The officer - named Speedo - clutches a speed camera made from a bleach bottle wrapped in tin foil and spends every shift positioned by the side of the treacherous stretch of road.

Mrs Pope - who is a parish councillor who runs a local farm shop - said the budget innovation was 'obviously working' after just a week.

She said: "We asked the council for a speed camera but they said it was expensive and would cost around £70,000.

"We had the speed limit changed from 60mph to 40mph, but they still shoot down here doing 60mph."

Caters

She continued: "There has been three accidents on this road just recently. There was one driver who crashed into a lamppost, breaking it in half and missing a pedestrian by six inches, she had to jump into a hedge to save her life.

"Now, you can hear the engines slowing down as soon as they see the scarecrow.

"She's only been there for one week and she's already working. Even the police have been to take pictures because they want more of them around. It's obviously working."

Speedo was originally dressed as a bride for a scarecrow festival, but Mrs Pope decided to deploy her in a more serious role after her hopes of getting a speed camera fitted were dashed.

In her first week of service, she has already been 'decapitated' by someone, however, she has now made a full recovery and is back at work.

Caters

Mrs Pope said: "Someone just got out of a car and took it. Then it was found decapitated, it took me five hours to repair it but it's back on duty now.

"After her turn as a bride I had to dull down the make up on her because I don't think a police officer would be wearing bright lipstick while on duty, it would give her away."

Sefton Council and Merseyside Police has been approached for a comment.

Presumably they're feeling vindicated to an extent, after all, why spend £70,000 for a speed camera when a scarecrow can do the job just as well?

Topics: UK News, Interesting, Cars

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey