Concerned homeowner, 54, too scared to let grandchildren play in garden after three cars smash through fence into it

A grandfather has been left too scared to let his grandchildren play in his garden after a string of cars have smashed through his fence and ploughed into it.

Scott Thomas, 54, is calling for his local council to cut the speed limit outside his home to prevent any more incidents, saying it is only a matter of time before someone is killed.

The grandfather-of-three said he is fed up of replacing his fence and replanting trees at his home in Dobshill, North Wales, after they have been destroyed on three occasions, causing what he says is more than £10,000 of damage.

The first incident happened in February 2019 when a silver Mercedes careered through his hedge and ended up on his lawn.

Then in February this year an Audi span off the road - which is dubbed 'Dirty Mile' - and smashed through his fence.

The latest incident happened on 6 May when a grey BMW ploughed through his garden fence and came to a rest just yards from his front door.

The dad-of-three, who is calling for the speed limit to be halved from 40mph to 20mph, said: "It's only by the sheer grace of God that these awful accidents have always seemed to happen either late at night or early hours in the morning when no-one is in the garden.

"It worries me that if it happens during daytime hours that one of my grandchildren, myself or my disabled partner would potentially be harmed.

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"I’ve been here for 35 years and I campaigned for the speed to be reduced down to 30 from 60 after a lady got knocked down by a car.

"A committee said there’s no need to reduce the speed."

He said he is too worried to let his grandchildren play in his garden in case a similar incident happens and they get hit.

He added: "Up the road, they’ve reduced the speed to 20. This road is still 40.

"It’s getting me thinking, we all hear people come up that fast when I'm in the garden. Now we’re just cautious of it.

"We can’t see the cars coming. And when the kids are playing, that’s what gets me worried. We're going to try and strengthen the next fence to stop it.

"The neighbours have only been here five years, and within the first few years they had a car in their garden."

He said he has so far had to replace trees, plants, bushes, and fencing as well as trying to salvage his lawn after the crashes.

"My partner has Parkinson's and she likes to sit in the garden a lot, but it does add risk," he added, saying he is trying to get funding for speed cameras which may help slow drivers down.

A spokesperson for Flintshire County Council said: "The existing 40mph speed limit is correct for the classification of road.

"Motorists have a responsibility to drive in accordance with road conditions and within the specified legal speed limit.

"It must therefore be noted that instances of excessive speeds at this location are as a result of drivers failing to adhere to the specified 40mph speed limit."