A MAN was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after a car careered into three parked vehicles, writing them off.

Residents are calling for speed bumps along Riviera Drive, Southchurch, after the car hit the vehicles with so much force a resident thought a train had come off the tracks and rushed out to see what had happened. A 26- year-old man was arrested at the scene.

Lorraine Monte, 36, who lives in the street, said: “I heard a speeding car and then a massive crash.

“They had gone straight into the three parked cars. They looked awful – they were all write-offs.

“One was completely totalled. It had all the back window smashed out. Another had a white cuddly toy in the car and the impact pushed it out on to the road.

“It’s lucky no one was on the pavement.”

Ms Monte said drivers sped down the road all the time and she has joined forces with other residents in asking Southend Council for speed bumps.

She added: “We get a lot of problems down here with speeders.

People drive up this road like lunatics at 60mph and they can’t control their cars. I have spoken to the council about this.”

Martin Terry, councillor responsible for transport, said: “From the initial details we have received from the police, it is unlikely traffic calming would have prevented this incident.

“We take road safety very seriously, and, though Riviera Drive does not currently meet these criteria, we will continue to monitor the situation.”

The 26-year-old, from Southend, was still in custody as the Echo went to press.