Safety campaigners halt traffic

Protesters promise further action (picture Blackmore Vale Media)

Campaigners are promising more action after they blocked a road in Dorset to demand a reduction in the speed limit.

About 60 people brought traffic to a standstill on the B3143 in Kings Stag when they stood in the road during two demonstrations.

They claim the 40mph limit is too fast in view of the high number of children and elderly people in the village.

The council has promised to review the limit but warned that consultation would take at least six months.

Campaigner Graham Walters said: "There is no street lighting or footway and you get cars thundering through here doing well over the 40mph limit.

We are determined to keep up the pressure until we get a definite line of action from the council Graham Walters, road safety campaigner

"We have asked the council to help but our requests have been ignored.

"We know blocking the road is drastic and we had a few comments from drivers but we don't know what else to do."

Motorists were stopped for about 10 minutes before one lane was cleared by the protesters.

Mr Walters said that because Kings Stag is defined as a village the council has a duty to enforce a 30mph limit.

But Dorset County Council traffic manager Andrew Bradley said: "The key here is where appropriate 30mph limits should be enforced on village roads.

"We have logged three collisions on the road in the past three years which is relatively few."

He said work was under way to review the limit but it would take at least six months of consultation before a decision would be made.

In the meantime, Mr Walters says the protests will continue.

"We are determined to keep up the pressure until we get a definite line of action from the council," he added.

Dorset Police have been monitoring the protests and have set up further speed traps on the road.