SPEED limits look set to be lowered on some of the fastest country roads in Kirklees.

Plans to drop de-restricted speeds to as low as 30mph along sections of the A642 Wakefield Road and A637 Barnsley Road have been welcomed by Kirklees councillor and road safety campaigner Mark Hemingway.

A raft of measures will include much lower speed limits together with extensive new road signs and safety markings.

Under the proposals, which focus on the Wakefield Road junction with Liley Lane, motorists heading into Flockton will be slowed to 30mph from the current 60mph limit.

Speeds could also be reduced by 10mph between Fenay Bridge and Lepton Edge along Wakefield Road.

The limit past the National Coal Mining Museum at Overton, near Grange Moor, will go down to 40mph from the current 60mph.

Part of Liley Lane, Grange Moor, will drop to 50mph.

Clr Hemingway said: "In the past five years there have been 55 accidents in that area, five of which have been very serious.

"The roads are like a racetrack. Once you get up past Lepton the roads open out and people drive a lot quicker than they should do.

"I'm really happy the Council has acted."