A MOTHER has launched a personal road safety campaign after her son was subject to a terrifying ordeal outside his Chipping Sodbury home.

Sophie Axford, of Woodman Close, is furious that her 13-year-old autistic son Billie has been left petrified and scared to go outside following an incident last Thursday afternoon.

Billie, who also has severe learning difficulties, was playing on his scooter with his two younger brothers Archie, 9, and Reuben, 4, and family friend Chloe Fews, 9, on a green outside his house.

When Reuben put his foot in the road to cross he was pulled back as a car was approaching but the driver is alleged to have stopped the car, wound down his window and shouted obscenities at the children. It is then claimed the unidentified motorist then mounted his car onto the pavement and chased Billie up the road.

"He doesn’t go out to play very often but the others were all out on their scooters and it has been a long winter," said Mrs Axford. "Mentally, Billie is only about five and he was absolutely petrified.

"The driver was very aggressive and used his car as a weapon. The children were all hysterical and now they don’t want go outside the house."

A neighbour witnessed the incident and it has been reported to police but Mrs Axford wants drivers to take more care on residential roads as children start playing outside this spring.

"It has been a long winter and children are only just coming outside to play again," she said. "But people drive too fast, especially here because it is a cut through to the High Street.

"I want people to be more mindful when they are driving around housing estates, especially after school when children are going to be out playing. People just need to be aware."

She added: "I am very angry. Billie is a vulnerable child but he still has a right to play."

A police spokeswoman said: ""As the weather improves and children begin to play outside again, we would encourage parents to remind their children about road safety, particularly if they need to cross roads to reach play parks or if the play area is near to the highway. Young children should always be supervised.

"Most residential areas have a 30mph speed limit and we would always urge motorists to drive with especial care near schools and areas used for children's play.

"The neighbourhood teams do run speed checks in areas highlighted by the community at Safer Stronger Neighbourhood meetings and also welcome interest from volunteers willing to run Community Speed Watch schemes."