In just one hour, 13 motorists were clocked going well over the 30mph speed limit in Hartwell Way, near Highlees Primary School, and it is feared these scenes are being repeated across the city.

With traffic the biggest "accidental" killer of children in the UK – and 20 children seriously injured or killed on Peterborough roads last year, compared with 10 in 2006 – police and councillors are urging drivers to cut their speed, particularly outside schools.

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Casualty reduction officer Pc Tony Barrios said: "Speed limits are not targets to be beaten. It's 30 miles per hour for a reason and certainly should be outside all schools – if not even less.

"It is totally irresponsible to drive at those speeds at that time of the day. Local drivers know there is a school there and should be more careful."

Officers had set up the mobile speed check to monitor drivers between the peak school leaving time of 2pm and 3pm and were shocked to see drivers blatantly flouting the speed limits.

Police Community Support Officer Martin George said: "As all drivers have to pass a test, I would expect people to be aware that Hartwell Way is a 30mph limit. When I spoke to some of the drivers, it was apparent that they lived locally and drive along the road every day.

"Dangers are ever-changing. Please take care around your area, there are plenty of gaps that children can run from along this route."

Deputy mayor of Peterborough councillor Gul Nawaz, who represents the Ravensthorpe ward, today condemned the speeders and said he and fellow ward councillor Harry Newton had received many complaints about the issue.

Cllr Nawaz added that he would be urging the council to put in place either a 20mph limit, or other traffic calming measures.

He said: "Its a worrying time, something should be done before a child is killed in the city. Drivers have to slow down. It is just not acceptable."

In June, The Evening Telegraph reported how Murrow Primary School, near Wisbech, had taken part on a nationwide safety march to stop road deaths.

The campaign Watch Out, There's a Kid About!, is calling for the Government to reduce the urban default limit to 20mph and introduce safe crossing places such as pelican crossings around schools.

And only last week, The ET revealed that even with these measures, bullying motorists were hounding lollipop ladies, with 81 drivers being reported for illegally failing to stop for the school crossing patrollers.