THE local government minister has claimed that "all eyes will be on Southampton" after Labour councillors pledged an extra £50,000 for 20mph zones outside schools.

Hazel Blears was hoping to give Labour's local election campaign a lift with a visit to Sholing, where council leader June Bridle is fighting for re-election with the slimmest majority.

She joined Southampton MPs Alan Whitehead and John Denham to present Labour councillors with a petition demanding legally enforceable 20mph limits outside schools.

The MPs had controversially asked schools to canvas support from parents after the previous Tory administration pledged only to put up advisory "20 is plenty" signs.

Extra £50,000 The Labour-led council administration has agreed to spend an extra £50,000 to pay for up to two new zones.

Mrs Blears said: "It's a great initiative they've taken. I think it's practical, it's realistic and will make a big difference.

"They've made it quite a priority. It's not happening in that many places across the country but I think all eyes will be on Southampton looking at how it works.

"You don't get 1,000 people to reply demanding something these days unless it's a really important issue."

Only 12 of the city's 84 schools are covered by 20mph zones. Between 12 and 16 more schools will get enforceable limits over the next year yet no extra zones with traffic calming measures are planned.

Tory transport spokesman councillor Gavin Dick said: "It's political rhetoric without the finances to fund it after they made a lot of noise about it."

Mrs Blears also heard from police about the success of a section 30 dispersal order in Sholing and joined Cllr Bridle in knocking on some doors and talking to some older people in sheltered housing.