DRIVERS travelling through Kilkhampton have been forced to slow down, due to a well placed ‘speed camera’ positioned at the north side of the village.

However, on closer inspection the familiar yellow and grey box commonly seen on roadside is actually nothing more than a bird box at the bottom of one homeowner’s garden, which overlooks the busy A39.

While driving past you would easily mistake it for an everyday speed camera, however the yellow and grey box has got six small holes in to allow access for birds.

The ‘bird box’ isn’t a new feature for the village and has been seen there before, over eight years ago on a previous April Fool’s Day. But it has recently been positioned back in its familiar spot once again.

The pioneer, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “Originally I made it as a speed camera! It was just a box painted to look like a speed camera and was just meant as a bit of fun. I initially put it on the verge side of the hedge just to slow people down. However, a day later the police arrived at my door and asked me to take it down.”

But due to recent traffic collisions in the village, the practical joker decided to take action.

He said: “However, in early April this year, I decided to make a bird box that just happens to be painted the same colours as a speed camera and placed it in my back garden, as opposed to on the verge.

“The fact that it serves two purposes is great, it helps people to slow down and gives a nice home to the wildlife.”

He said the village has a problem with cars coming down the A39 and speeding on their approach, adding: “Cars have plenty of opportunity to brake before they get into the 30mph zone, they should have slowed to 40 way before.

“I live inside the speed gate, between the 40 mph and 30 mph zone and there has been two big accidents in recent months from people pulling out of the North Close estate and colliding with cars.”

He explained that people don’t slow down until they come into the main part of the village where the parked cars force people to drive slower.

He said: “An issue I have is that my kids have to cross the road over here and walk along the road as there is no pavement. If cars are going well above the speed limit this makes it incredibly dangerous.”

After the story blew up in the national papers and on various online platforms, such as The Sun and the LAD Bible, the man has considered taking it down, as he never wanted any publicity.

However due to it being a great home for wildlife and because of its positive effect on traffic he said he might make it a regular fixture during school holidays and on bank holiday weekends, so that people who aren’t familiar with the village will assume it to be any other speed camera.

He added: “All it was, was a bit of of tongue and cheek and just something nice for the birds.

“Quite a few people have said well done to me for doing it and shook my hand for the positive effect it has had and no one has said anything directly negative to me.

“I did look at some of the comments on the various online pages which weren’t so positive, but after a while people seemed to praise the idea and some even called for something similar in their own towns and villages. If it manages to slow traffic down then that’s a great thing and I have seen an improvement.”

On social media, locals have been praising the homeowner as it has made passing cars slow down on their approach and exit of the village.

One comment said: “Great idea… and looking after our wildlife.”

One person commented on how much more effective it has been in comparison to the speed sign further down the road, which warns cars to slow down.

Another, who had recently driven past said: “I had to turn around the other day to make sure it wasn’t a camera.”