A distraught family whose cat died after being hit by a car fear a schoolchild will be next unless something is done to tackle speeding drivers.

Dawn Holmes and daughter Taylor-Ann are calling for action after their young cat, ‘Meow’, died following a collision outside their home in Broadway, Silver End.

The family has also had a car damaged in the past, while they claim a friend in neighbouring Boars Tye Road lost four cats in six weeks and a neighbour ended up with a car in their front garden.

Taylor-Ann, 21, who bought the cat for her mum’s birthday, realised something was wrong when it didn’t return for its dinner at 4pm as usual.