Jeremy Clarkson scarecrow slows traffic

A scarecrow dressed as a policeman with TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson's face has been making drivers through a Northumberland village slow down.

The figure, on the main road through West Mickley, has a high visibility jacket, toy helmet and a hairdryer attached to look like a speed gun.

Sheila Hodgkinson, whose son Christopher erected the scarecrow, said he was annoyed by speeding drivers.

Neighbour Tom Hadall said: "He's been slowing the traffic down."

He added: "I think it's looking, then looking twice to see what it actually is, and then stopping. He's been doing a good job."

The scarecrow, sporting a badge saying West Mickley Police, is one of a number made for a local competition.

It is joined on the 30mph stretch of road by a mermaid, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge among others.

Mrs Hodgkinson said her son had chosen the Clarkson picture for the face because he was a fan of the Top Gear presenter.

She said: "This is what he's always played war about because the speed along here, they don't stop."

Darren Cartwright, from nearby Prudhoe, thought the scarecrow was a "good idea".

"When I come along the other day I really thought it was a policeman," he said.

He added the village did have a problem with people driving too fast.

"They do speed along here and there's some big, heavy traffic comes through here as well."

A passer-by who did not want to be named said: "He must be realistic because I slowed right down yesterday when I saw it."