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A bird box resembling a traffic camera has put the brakes on speeding motorists racing through a village. Retired police officer Bill Angus placed the box on a pole at the edge of his property in order, he says, to offer a little help to the local bird life. The birds may or may not be grateful – but his fellow villagers certainly are. Since the bright yellow box – pictured right – went up, the number of drivers doing 60mph through the 30mph zone has come down. Mr Angus insists – without so much as a hint of a smile – that the effect on speeders is no more than a happy coincidence. ‘Why does everyone think it’s a fake speed camera?’ he asked. ‘It’s a bird box and has been designed this way to stop people stealing it. It’s a bright colour, too, to attract the blue tits and finches. ‘Since I have put it up, the traffic is keeping to 30mph. If people want to think it is a camera, that is a matter for themselves.’ Mr Angus said villagers in Newbottle, near Houghton-le-Spring, Durham, have long campaigned for a speed camera, but were told it was not a priority site. More    Update