Watford's most controversial width restriction has gained global notoriety after a compilation of drivers crashing into it went viral.

Footage of vehicles smashing into the Woodmere Avenue posts and flying off the ground is thought to have been watched millions of times over the last week or so.

The width restriction has been covered extensively by the Observer in recent months after a newly installed doorbell camera captured multiple collisions, which in some cases have written off cars.

Several smashes were recorded between the end of August and the beginning of October and a compilation of them - including a police van crashing - has been uploaded onto countless news websites and social media pages.

Watford Observer: Screenshots of just three of the many vehicles that have been filmed crashing into the same width restriction, pictured bottom rightScreenshots of just three of the many vehicles that have been filmed crashing into the same width restriction, pictured bottom right

The likes of the Daily Mail, Sun, the Metro, the BBC and ITV have covered it, with JOE, the Lad Bible and others also sharing the videos with its followers.

Unsurprisingly in today's digital age, the footage has spread from the UK right across the world, reaching as far as the USA and New Zealand.

And Tim Vigor, who installed the camera, has seen the Facebook group in which he shares clips of the crashes, grow by around six times to around 3,500 members.

Watford Observer: Just some of the organisations that have written about the width restriction this month. Credit: GoogleJust some of the organisations that have written about the width restriction this month. Credit: Google

The group - Woodmere Avenue width restriction - has now become a daily source for memes and jokes, and while some have tried to put forward constructive ideas on how to solve the issues at the width restriction, others appear to have joined for entertainment purposes.

For example, one person photoshopped a row of cinema seats and a popcorn machine into the Vigor's driveway, while others have described it as a new "tourist attraction".

Watford Observer: Credit: Woodmere Avenue width restriction Facebook pageCredit: Woodmere Avenue width restriction Facebook page

Watford Observer: Credit: Woodmere Avenue width restriction Facebook pageCredit: Woodmere Avenue width restriction Facebook page

Another joked: "I just bought the 'I survived the Woodmere Avenue Width Restriction' T-Shirt. Unfortunately it was too small", while another marked themselves as "safe" from the restriction for the day.

Watford Observer: Credit: Woodmere Avenue width restriction Facebook pageCredit: Woodmere Avenue width restriction Facebook page

Mr Vigor says he never expected the videos captured on his doorbell camera to go viral and he has even been offered cash for them but he says he is not interested in making money out of other people's misfortune.

The resident, who wants to see the width restriction taken away, says he was approached by a news agency and after the story appeared in Mail Online, it essentially blew up from there.

Watford Observer: Credit: Woodmere Avenue width restriction Facebook pageCredit: Woodmere Avenue width restriction Facebook page

Reacting to the width restriction's newfound fame, he said: "I totally get why some people find it funny because it is not outside their house. I didn't want it to become a joke because I want the thing removed.

"I've had a few spats because people are saying the bollards are an inanimate object, which is true, but the whole design is wrong.

"Despite everything, this (going viral) has done more good than harm and it has certainly highlighted the issue.

"I'll be keeping the camera there until I'm told it's not allowed or if the width restriction is taken away."

Watford Observer: Credit: Woodmere Avenue width restriction Facebook pageCredit: Woodmere Avenue width restriction Facebook page

Mr Vigor and his wife Tracy, whose home is directly outside the width restriction, believe the placing of the first post on the left is the primary cause of crashes.

They say drivers are travelling on a dropped kerb without realising they are, causing them to smash into the post which is in line with the kerb, even if they are travelling slowly.

Watford Observer: The Vigor's believe the dropped kerb (that they believe drivers' don't realise they are on) being in line with the first post is to blame for some drivers striking the first post The Vigor's believe the dropped kerb (that they believe drivers' don't realise they are on) being in line with the first post is to blame for some drivers striking the first post

The couple would like to see the seven foot wide restriction, which has been the way it is now for around ten years, to be taken away. Instead, they would like to see cameras installed that catch out prohibited large vehicles using Woodmere Avenue.

Hertfordshire County Council told the Observer in September that drivers have a "responsibility" to travel at "safe speed" and know the width of their vehicle.

Watford Observer: When a vehicle does hit one of the width restriction bollards, this is what can happenWhen a vehicle does hit one of the width restriction bollards, this is what can happen

But in an interview with BBC Three Counties Radio this month, Councillor Phil Bibby, who is in charge of highways, appeared to agree with presenter Andy Collins' statement that the restriction is too small - and said the council was working with Watford MP Dean Russell and the Government to secure more powers to use automatic number plate recognition cameras at the location.

On Thursday, the Observer requested an interview with Cllr Bibby but was told by a council spokesperson: "I’m afraid we’re not doing any more interviews about Woodmere Avenue."

We have subsequently emailed some questions over for Cllr Bibby to answer that relate specifically to the placing of the left post.