HGVs rat-running in a residential road is "a serious injury waiting to happen", claim residents fed up with lorries speeding past their homes.

Road-rage incidents and the number of speeding lorries are mounting, according to Wimbledon residents who have signed a petition calling on Merton Council to introduce traffic calming measures in South Park Road.

Julie Gould, who started the petition, said residents have seen dangerous levels of traffic along the road for the past two years, as vehicles cut through Haydons Road to avoid the traffic lights in Trinity Road.

The retired solicitor said during the morning rush hour she can count between 30 and 40 cars passing her home in the space of a minute.

She believes traffic calming measures in Quicks Road and the expansion of Holy Trinity Primary School have diverted more traffic to South Park Road, where there is a speed limit of 20 mph.

She said: "I would like Merton Council to restrict the rat-run traffic either by road bars or timed 'No Entry' signs."

Councillor Andrew Judge, cabinet member for environmental sustainability and regeneration, said South Park Road forms part of a network of roads planned for regeneration under Merton's cycling programme.

He said the borough is due to learn at the end of the month whether it will receive enough money from the Mayor of London's Mini-Holland cycling scheme to improve pedestrian and cycling safety in Wimbledon.

If Boris Johnson awards Merton a multi-million pound payout, as expected, there will be a consulation with residents of surrounding roads and any work in the area would start in March next year.

Councillor Abdul Latif, who represents Trinity ward, said: "We support residents in their campaign against heavy traffic in South Park, Wycliffe, Latimer and Bridges roads.

"The volume of traffic is resulting in damage to parked cars, congestion, road rage, noise and ground vibrations generated by HGVs."

To view the petition, visit https://petitions.merton.gov.uk/epetition_core/community/activepetitions.