Shoppers have launched a protest over the height of speed bumps in a car park.

Drivers say sleeping policemen in Borehamwood Retail Park, in Theobold Street, Borehamwood, have damaged their cars.

The humps were installed to deter motorists from driving too fast when entering and exiting the car park.

But Borehamwood town councillor Pat Strack, who lives in Carrington Avenue, Borehamwood, said: “They are too high. They obviously need to do something to slow the traffic but they need to make the camber different.

“They need to make it less steep, as some of the lower slung cars hit their underside as they go across.

“I have had a lot of emails about it. As soon as you mention the bumps to people, everyone’s got a story to tell about them, especially as the car park is very well used.

“It’s very busy, even midweek. I’m really surprised they have gone ahead and done this as I would have thought they know they wouldn’t be a suitable height.”

The Elstree and Borehamwood Residents’ Association has launched a Facebook group in protest against the humps, which has 80 likes.

Cllr Sandra Parnell, a councillor for Borehamwood Hillside ward, said: “I think it is good that they have something to slow traffic but it needs to be less obtrusive, less onerous.

“It’s just too high for lower vehicles. It was dangerous before, people were driving too fast, and it has slowed traffic but it’s too much for people's comfort.”

The residents are now calling on the owners of the shopping park, LaSalle Management Investments, to add more tarmac to the hump to make the impact less sharp.

Ann Harrison, a councillor for the Cowley Hill ward, said: “The first time I came in here and drove over it, it shook the whole car.

“You can go over them at about two miles an hour, but you don’t realise how high it is.”

A statement from Borehamwood Retail Park said: "Due to concerns raised by the landlord and council over the speed of vehicles within Borehamwood Retail Park, we have installed speed humps as a traffic calming measure. This will improve safety for road users.

"Speed restriction signs together with road markings are due to be installed to further warn drivers to reduce their speed on approach of the speed bumps.

"We are also taking measures to reduce one of the speedbumps slightly, to make it easier for some cars to drive safely over them."