A woman who had part of her fence demolished by a hit and run driver is calling for better safety measures – before there is a serious accident.

Suzanne Mayes has lived in Upper Fant Road, Maidstone, for just under four years and said there has been a catalogue of incidents.

She said: "In September 2014 a cyclist came down the road and skidded into my drive, knocking a wall over.

"A wall was also driven into last year at the end of the road and took many weeks to be rebuilt. In 2013 a car crashed into another drive just a few houses down from me."

Things came to a head for her last weekend, when another car, believed to be a burgundy BMW or Mazda, ploughed into her garden fence at around 10.15pm on Saturday.

She said: "A car came down Hackney Road and into my drive, narrowly missing my daughter's car, but smashing the concrete post, plinth and fence panel.

"The vehicle was then driven off without leaving details."

Mrs Mayes, who has reported the incident to police, believes better signs might reduce the number of accidents.

"This is a fatality waiting to happen" - Suzanne Mayes

She said: "There are no sharp-bend warning signs either along Upper Fant Road or Hackney Road.

"The speed bumps finish way too soon along Hackney Road and there are no warning chevron signs.

"This is a fatality waiting to happen."

She also said householders were left to pick up the bill, adding: "Repairs are not always covered by insurance, and if they are, our premiums will sky rocket if we keep claiming. Something needs to be done."

Fant ward councillor Matt Boughton (Con) said: "All too often there are few signs, uneven surfaces and dangerous parking which cause hazards to drivers. It is local residents who are left to face the consequences.

"I have developed a plan on nearby Milton Street that will soon address parking chaos through clearly marked bays. If successful, I would like to roll it out to other local roads. It is clear something needs to be done and that is why I am pushing for action."

His ward colleague, Cllr Paul Harper (Lab), said: "The Labour Party has been campaigning for over a decade to have a 20mph speed limit here.

"Traffic travels very quickly around the area, and Upper Fant Road which is a residential road is used as a rat-run with Hackney Road, Gatland Lane and Glebe Lane to avoid Tonbridge Road.

"I fully sympathise with Suzanne Mayes and will be asking KCC, the highways authority, to review what can be done to make the corner of Upper Fant Road and Hackney Road safer."

A spokesman for KCC said: "We constantly strive to keep road users as safe as possible on Kent's roads and are always concerned over any accident.

"We have to make tough decisions on where to improve traffic and road safety in local areas. This means we have to say 'no' more than we'd like, especially if the request won't reduce casualties.

"We look at the sites most in need of improvement first, which have got the support of the whole community."