School run drivers ‘targeted with glued down nails to stop them parking in quiet street’

Police are investigating claims that nails are being used to target school run drivers who park in a quiet cul-de-sac.

Grandmother Janet Smith, 62, found a screw in the tyre of her car in Old Rectory Close, Highbridge, Somerset, after picking up her children from primary school

She claimed drivers are being targeted with nails glued to the ground facing upwards as they do the school run at East Brent CofE Academy.

Police are investigating as a resident believes nails have been found on the road there before.

There have been reports of nails and screws being scattered in the road, glued facing upwards and even hidden among leaves.

Police say they are investigating and treating it as criminal damage.

Mrs Smith believes that leaves are being used to disguise the pieces of metal.

She drops her two six-year-old grandchildren off at primary school three times a week.

MOST POPULAR TODAY ON YAHOO

• Alien ‘cigar’ asteroid showed strange ‘speed boost’ as it raced through solar system

• DNA tests which prove people’s ancestry ‘are complete bunkum’ says expert

• Theresa May angers her Brexit MPs amid claims she will try to keep the UK within the single market

• Wildlife artist captures rare footage of tawny owl bathing in bright sunshine during heatwave

• Here’s the scientific reason you never stop worrying about stuff

But she recently found a screw on her tyre after parking in nearby Rectory Close – and believes nails are being fixed in an upright position to inflict maximum damage.

“Nails are being placed at the side of the road,” she said.

“I went there on Thursday morning and got back into my car and turned around in the close and I thought, ‘What’s that noise?’

“I looked around and couldn’t see anything but when I got home and when the wheel was in a different position I could see it was a screw that was making the noise.

“Somebody is going to have a nasty accident. The parking isn’t dangerous and nobody is being blocked or anything like that.

“It is straightforward legal parking and this is the way they are tackling it.”

She has since returned to Rectory Close to pick up nails which have been placed in the road.

Mrs Smith says she fears a motorist could end up having a blow out on a major road if their vehicle is driven with a nail or screw in the tyre.

She added: “It’s not private. It’s a cul-de-sac and we’re there for ten minutes.”

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Constabulary said: “We can confirm that we received a report from a woman that she discovered a screw in the tyre of her vehicle when she returned home to Church Road after doing the school run.

“She believes this was deliberate.

“We are treating the incident as criminal damage and are keen to hear from anyone who may have information to contact us.”