A seven-year-old boy whose cat was run over by a speeding driver has started policing his road, and gives a stern glare to cars he thinks are going too fast.
Harry Cannell, from Mattishall Norfolk, was heartbroken after his cat Trevor was run over last month on the 30mph road outside their home, and decided to keep an eye on the traffic going past his home.
His family put up a large sign to warn drivers, while Harry spent his time scowling at motorists wearing a hi-vis vest.
Appearing on This Morning today with his mother Claire, 37, he told that drivers ‘did listen’ after he scolded them for speeding.
Harry Cannell (pictured), from Mattishall Norfolk, has started policing his road and gives a stern glare to cars he thinks are going too fast
Appearing on This Morning today with his mother Claire, 37, (pictured) he told that drivers ‘did listen’ after he scolded them for speeding
‘I basically stood out front and told drivers to slow down and if there was another car coming the other way I told the other one to stop,’ said Harry. ‘They were listening to me.’
Claire called losing their beloved pet ‘horrific’ and explained that Trevor was ‘truly part of the family’, even accompanying them on the school run.
‘Unfortunately he’d come out that evening and was knocked over on the road,’ she told.
‘Obviously in lockdown as well it made it that much harder. We were already under a lot of pressure and stress and I know people say “It’s just a cat”, but it was horrific really.
Harry and his family were heartbroken after their cat Trevor was run over last month on the 30mph road outside their home
‘He was such a wonderful cat. He would come on the school run and wait in the bushes, he was well and truly part of the family.’
Trevor is the second pet belonging to the family to be killed on the road in the last four years, and Claire is working with local authorities to reduce the speed limit of their road.
‘We’re 30 at the moment,’ she said. ‘We’ve been working with the local police and a solicitor to see if we can get the speed limit reduced down to 20, just to make it a little bit safer.’
The mother urged drivers to slow down on their country road, saying she fears that a child could be injured by speeding cars.
After starting his campaign, Claire posted on the local Facebook noticeboard, letting the community know about Harry’s mission and two police officers soon got in touch and asked to meet Harry
The officers awarded Harry a certificate for ‘doing what he can’ and even let him try out their speed gun
‘People obviously just fly down here,’ she said. ‘Being a country lane not everyone obeys the law.
‘We’ve had lots of animals killed on this road, my concern is how long will it be until a child is injured or worse.’
Despite his rigorous campaigning, today even Harry seemed affected by the heatwave, which has seen temperatures soar above 37C, admitting that he’s ‘boiling’ in his high-vis jacket.
‘It’s been a bit hot,’ said Harry. ‘I’m itching at the moment because I’m boiling.’
After starting his campaign, Claire posted on the local Facebook noticeboard, letting the community know about Harry’s mission.
Despite his rigorous campaigning, today even Harry seemed affected by the heatwave, admitting he was ‘boiling’ in his jacket
Proudly displaying his certificate, Harry told: ‘I basically stood out front and told drivers to slow down and if there was another car coming the other way I told the other one to stop’
Two police officers soon got in touch and asked to come down and meet Harry, awarding him a certificate and even letting him try out their speed gun.
‘I have a certificate because the police gave me one for standing out front and doing what I can,’ Harry explained.
Posting a photograph of Harry working with them, Breckland Police wrote on Twitter: ‘Harry has been encouraging road safety and speed awareness on his street.
‘We think he’ll make a great police officer.’