RESIDENTS in Frognal are calling for speed calming measures on a road branded a ""rat run"" and ""racetrack"" after a 4x4 smashed into parked cars and landed on its roof. Just after midnight on Friday April 4, the silver Toyota

Marc Mullen & Meredith Taylor

RESIDENTS in Frognal are calling for speed calming measures on a road branded a "rat run" and "racetrack" after a 4x4 smashed into parked cars and landed on its roof.

Just after midnight on Friday April 4, the silver Toyota collided with two parked cars on Redington Road and rolled over.

Police, a fire engine and an ambulance rushed to the scene.

Ronel Lehmann, who lives on the road, was woken by the crash. He said: "I thought a bomb had gone off. The noise was so loud nearly all our neighbours were out and onto the street within minutes.

"I managed to see the driver crawl through his window. He was obviously in shock and just kept walking around in circles saying he needed to talk to his wife. I'm amazed he got out alive."

The driver escaped with minor cuts and bruises and was treated at the scene.

In January Michael Supper-stone's car was written off on the same stretch of road, when a car crashed into it.

Now residents are calling for speed calming measures to slow traffic and stop the road becoming a rat run through Hampstead.

Andrew Usiskin, chairman of residents' association RedFrog, said: "I have lived here more than 30 years and it is not uncommon to see accidents on this street.

"It is used as a rat run at all times of the day and is extremely busy during the school run.

"It is only a matter of time before there is a fatal accident. I would like something done before that happens.

"A raised table is a much more efficient way of dealing with what is at times a race track."

RedFrog's committee met last week and members are lobbying Camden Council to introduce either a speed table or an illuminated sign which flashes the 30mph speed limit at any speeding cars.

Mr Usiskin added: "This road is like Fitzjohn's Avenue. It is a long straight road which people speed down, except that in many places it is far narrower than Fitzjohn's Avenue.

"We need something done."

marc.mullen@hamhigh.co.uk