THE second phase of a controversial scheme to slow down traffic through a New Forest village has come to an end.

For the past month, a team of volunteers has been jotting down the registration numbers of motorists speeding through Lyndhurst.

It was the second of three trials of the Community Speed Watch scheme in the village.

A team of volunteers watch a Speed Indicating Device (SID) in Gosport Lane which flashes to remind motorists of a 30mph speed limit.

Anyone breaking the limit has their details noted by the volunteers.

Speed data is also recorded by a black box.

The scheme sparked controversy when it was introduced earlier this year.

A motoring organisation condemned it "vigilantism" and said it could "poison community relations".

It is estimated that up to 100 warning letters were issued by traffic police after the first month-long trial.

Hampshire County Council has refused to release any data until the end of the all trials across the county in April next year.