A GRAN hauled to court after drunkenly constructing a speedbump out of rocks to slow speeding drivers said her life has been "hell" ever since.

Andrea Wilkinson was accused of causing £1,200 of damage to Amy Leadbeater's Audi AI Sportback after she drove into the stones at 25mphlast year.

But Ms Wilkinson, 51, was let off after the judge said it was unclear whether the car had connected with the "speedbump" – which was constructed after neighbours moaned about motorists whizzing past their idyllic cottages in the remote village of Edgeworth, near Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Ms Wilkinson told The Sun: "This has made my life hell for the last 12 months.

She added: "I've been cleared of any wrongdoing, so that's it."

Ms Wilkinson admitted crafting the speedbump with rocks taken from a nearby dry stone wall after guzzling booze and moaning on Facebook to neighbours about speeding motorists.

She told a court: "I'm sorry for what had happened – I had a lot to drink that night but I have tried to resolve the issue.

"Three weeks after what happened, she had a brand new turbo unit fitted. It is impossible for that to be damaged like that."

The 51-year-old grandmother had lugged the stones into the road after campaigners' pleas for a 20mph limit and speedbump on the country road were ignored.

She then posted in a neighbourhood group about taking matters into her own hands.

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But two days later law firm worker Ms Leadbeater, 25, claimed she ran over the coping stones.

Burnley Magistrates Court heard how she said the collision with the stones had caused her to stop at the side of the road.

Ms Leadbeater initially paid £44.96 to have the Audi realigned – but then said she paid a further £1,200 because turbo charger had been wrecked in the prang.

It is thought another driver also ran over the hump but drove away.

Ms Leadbeater also claimed sozzled locals lined up along the row of cottages to hurl abuse at her and her sister, who was travelling with her in the car, and that Ms Wilkinson was "quite aggressive".

Ms Wilkinson initially pleaded guilty to criminal damage, but then changed her plea after Ms Leadbeater, who works at a law firm, was accused of exaggerating the extent of the damage.

But despite the drama, neighbours on the road still back Ms Wilkinson's decision, although one local admitted "you cannot go building your own speedbumps."

Retired policeman Mick Hudson, 72, sympathised as he highlighted numerous road rage incidents near the three cottages.

Mick said: "The road is national speed limit here, but reduces to 30mph by the cottages.

"The frustration I have with the road is the road rage incidents that are unbelievable.

"People simply don't know the Highway Code.

"They come flying from the national speed limit road, failing to slow down, and the number of times wing mirrors are clipped down by the cottages is a big issue.

"In all fairness the villagers stick together, and if you've not been here 30 years, you're not truly a local."

But he added: "I was in the police for 30 years and obstructing the Queen's Highway is an offence.

"At the end of the day we all understand now that you cannot go building your own speed bumps."

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