A Llangunnor woman counted cars from 7am until midnight with barely a break to eat or drink in a desperate bid to get the council to solve her traffic nightmare.

Sandra Deacon claims she tallied-up 18,375 vehicles driving past her home in seven whole days over a two-week period. She spent more than 100 hours at her window counting cars, vans and lorries.

She had become exasperated over the volume of traffic on Babell Hill, a winding B-road going through Llangunnor, which she says has become a rat run.

Mrs Deacon compiled a 32-page dossier, which has been seen by the Journal.

It details exactly how many vehicles used the road, what percentage came uphill and downhill, and even how many people walked their dogs past her house. She is concerned about the impact of pollution on the dog-walkers.

She has repeatedly called for traffic-calming measures and, though Carmarthenshire council has taken up the matter and is in discussion with the road safety unit, she feels more should be done.

"I sat at my window all day counting the traffic," said 64-year-old Mrs Deacon, of Brithdir. "When I went to the kitchen, for example, I even left the front door open so I could still count each vehicle.

"The traffic has become unbearable."

She claimed that rather than trying to solve the problem, the council has made it worse by approving planning for a new 65-house estate at the top of the hill. "Each of those houses is likely to have one car, if not two. This will just make things worse," said Mrs Deacon.

In reply to Mrs Deacon's concerns, a council spokesperson said: "County transport managers have been working with residents over issues at this location and as a result of mechanical counters recordings placed in the road over the last month we have referred this matter to the Road Safety Partnership team for further consideration.

"In the meantime, we have drawn the attention of the police Cross Hands Road Safety unit and officers are carrying out hand-held speed gun operations with local officers and deploying hi-viz vehicles in the area to deter speeding motorists there.

"The partnership will consider if there are any further traffic calming measures which may be needed. These things take time, but ultimately the decision is with the police.

"Even if we want to do something to calm traffic we have to get all the residents' permission first — just because Mrs Deacon wants something done doesn't mean all the community feels the same."

Mrs Deacon also went to Plaid Cymru in an attempt to prompt action.

Plaid AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas said: "I have been aware of the concerns [about Babell Hill] and contacted the council to ask them to investigate the possibility of establishing traffic calming measures.

"I have been advised the council is in discussions with the police about this issue.

"Hopefully this will lead to some changes being proposed that will increase safety levels on the road."

alex.smith@swwmedia.co.uk