BARRY residents say they are living in fear for their lives thanks to a gang of young joyriders.

Locals living at St Catherines Court, Gibbonsdown, are terrified that youths who use their road as a racetrack will soon kill someone.

Kerry Carter, 20, told the News: "For the last few months, the problem has been getting worse. Cars come screaming around the corner into this road like it's a race track.

Last month, my son Aaron nearly got knocked over right outside the house. He's only four, and although he knows he's got to get onto the pavement if there's a car coming, he hasn't got the time to move. It was a really close call last time, and something needs to be done before someone is killed."

In a desperate attempt to stop the problem, the residents are calling for the help of the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

Homeowners in St Catherine's Court have signed a 200-strong petition to get traffic calming measures put in their road.

And the the newly formed Neighbourhood Watch group have also turned to their local Vale councillor, Rob Curtis for help.

He said: "This is a terrible situation for people living here to cope with. When the ground is dry, you can actually see the tire marks left of the surface of the road where drivers are doing hand-brake turns."

Skomer Road, which runs passed St Catherine's Court, has speed cameras. But the small estate has no way of stopping the rising tide of joy riders using their roads as a speed way.

Cllr Rob Curtis added: "The residents have come together to try and get some action. The petition has been put into the Highways Department, and now we have to wait to hear the outcome."