A CAMPAIGN has been launched to slash the speed limit along a rat run after a cat was killed.

Kirsty Galea, of The Drive, Rochford, watched on in horror as pet moggy Ron, who was just over one-year-old, was hit by a car outside her home.

He died of severe head injuries shortly after.

Mrs Galea, 33, claims the road, which is close to Waterman Primary School, is used a race track, with regular reports of speeding.

She had launched a petition to cut the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph.

At the time the Echo went to print it had already received 118 signatures.

Mrs Galea said: “I saw some headlights and noticed one of my cats was by the curb and as I called him Ron stuck his head out between two cars across the road.

“He didn’t even get a chance to fully be in the road before they hit him. He was flapping and having a fit in the road.

“If it was a child they wouldn’t have stood a chance with how fast the car was going. The driver didn’t even stop.”

Ron was on the way to the vets when he died.

Mum-of-five Mrs Galea believes action needs to be taken along The Drive before a child is seriously hurt or killed.

She added: “Drivers use it like a rat run because it loops round, it’s like a race track for them.

“It’s a residential area and I’m four doors down from a primary school- which is pretty much where Ron was hit.

“A couple of other people have said how worried they are about the safety of their children down the road.

“It’s worrying. I’m a mum of five children and I don’t even let my older children play out the front of the house. “I’m devastated and petrified that it’s going to be one of the local children next.

“While I was out getting signatures for the petition I was told that a speeding car nearly hit a man and his child.

“The speeding is reckless and dangerous.”

Jo Mcpherson, parish councillor for Rochford, has thrown her support behind the petition.

She said: “This is just one more sad incident that has invigorated this fight for lower speeds.

“Kirsty wants to slow the traffic down the road. I think that’s the right of any resident who lives where they are subject to speeding.

“Hopefully we can do a Community Speedwatch there.

“The parish council has asked for 20mph speed restrictions round the town centre and this incident should give weight to it and we will go back to the Highways Panel.

“There are always constant complaints of speeding.”

A spokesperson for Essex Highways said: “We encourage residents who have concerns about speeding, or other road safety issues, to contact their local Essex county councillor with the details so that they can take up the issue at the Rochford District Highways Panel.”