Two Cilcennin schoolgirls have launched their own road safety campaign in a bid to encourage motorists to slow down while driving through their village after several pets were killed over the years.

Upset at the number of dogs and cats that have been run over on the road through the village, Aberaeron Primary School pupils Caoimhe Chambers and Francessca Cooper have designed posters calling on drivers to reduce their speed. They have also drawn up a petition.

Eight-year-old Caoimhe said: “We have had five cats killed on the road and two of my favourite kittens, Antonio and Sylvester.

“I was very sad.

“We stopped at a lady’s house and she told us that she had had eight cats killed on the road. My friend Maisie had her pug killed.

“I would like the cars to drive more slowly so that no more of my animals get killed on the road.”

Nine-year-old Francessca said it was not just the lives of animals which were being put at risk.

“I would like everyone to go slowly because there are loads of children and adults on the road and you may run them over and they will have to go to hospital because of your speeding on the road,” she said.

“They might even die."

See this week’s South Ceredigion paper for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now