Police have said the majority of drivers caught speeding in a 20mph zone during an operation were women and the elderly who did not have “any idea” of the speed limit.

Officers using a speed gun in Elmcroft Avenue, Wanstead, at the junction of Colvin Gardens, stopped 43 drivers in just one hour on Thursday.

A police spokeswoman said: “All were local residents and predominately female and elderly who thought it was a 30mph limit. None had any idea that the area was in fact a 20mph zone.”

She added that, despite being caught driving and varying speeds, they all received a warning.