ROAD safety campaigners in Kings Worthy are celebrating after a busy road had its speed limit cut.

Springvale Road, which is a popular route for schoolchildren and residents previously had a limit of 40mph - now that has been cut to 30mph.

It comes after villagers and councillors called for Hampshire County Council to reduce the speed limit for years.

Both Kings Worthy Parish Council and Headbourne Worthy Parish Council have been calling for the speed limit to be slashed.

One of the campaigners is Winchester City Councillor for Kings Worthy Jane Rutter said she was delighted with the decision.

Cllr Rutter, said: “It is something that local people have been asking us for many years.

We have families and young children and the schools itself is keen for the speed limit to be reduced, it is something we have been asking for many years for the residents and it is something people in the worthies will be delighted about.

“I think it shows that you should just not give up, if you think something is right it is the right thing to do.”

The decision was made by Hampshire County Council.

The issue was bought to light by a Sophie Johnston in 2010 - who was seven at the time.

The former Kings Worthy Primary School pupil wrote to the then MP Mark Oaten and Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate, Martin Tod to launch a petition after her mother said she could not have a kitten because the road was too dangerous.

The petition received more than 400 signatures.

Lib Dem prospective MP councillor Jackie Porter has been campaigning for the speed limit to be slashed for nine years.

Cllr Porter said: "I am very pleased that they finally made a decision because we did not want it to carry on any longer.

"I am pleased and I am involved with the walking bus and I hope it means more children will walk to school and I hope people will be more concious of pedestrians."