Almost 1,000 people have joined a group on social networking website Facebook against Ashford’s shared space road scheme.

But a rival group has also been set up, offering tongue-in-cheek support for the scheme.

The group 'Ashford's Shared Space is an accident waiting to happen' was set up a month ago by Phill Thorne in reaction to the new road scheme where signs and signals have been reduced and traffic and people mix.

The group was set up soon after Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson criticised the scheme, which includes Bank Street, Elwick Road, West Street and Forge Lane.

Facebook posts discuss near misses of accidents that people have witnessed.

A second Facebook group has been set up and currently has 14 members.

“Ashford Shared Space - KCC Supporting Natural Selection” was set up by former Norton Knatchbull pupil Tom Driscoll.

He describes it as: “A group in honour of the glorious (HA) organisation of KCC taking a slightly Darwinian turn in recent months with the completion of Operation ‘Codename: Frogger,’ a scheme designed to cull society of hopeless spongers by declaring that if you can’t walk over 30ft of concrete expanse, dodging speeding cars, cyclists, motorcyclists, buses, Brontosauruses and priests, then you don’t bloody deserve to get home.”