Eastleigh town's first 20mph speed limit in a residential zone has been unveiled at Shakespeare Road - and there's more to come if borough councillors get their way.

Drivers will now have to cut their speed along the busy road which serves a housing estate and has two schools, two sheltered housing schemes and a centre for people with physical disabilities.

Welcoming the move, Councillor Chris Thomas - who was a leading campaigner for the introduction of the 20mph limit - said: "This is the first, but we want to see it extended across the town."

The new Eastleigh limit was unveiled on the day the Daily Echo revealed that a 20mph restriction is to be imposed around all 91 schools in Southampton from March.

Cllr Thomas said: "Government figures show that in an accident at 20mph five per cent of pedestrians get injured - at 30mph 95 per cent are injured.

"In my view there is no argument about it, 20mph limits should be introduced in many other places, particularly in front of schools and, eventually to all residential areas.

"This is a key part of that continuing process. The 20mph zone in Shakespeare Road will mean a much safer journey to school for the hundreds of youngsters who use the road each day."

The busy link between Twyford Road and Woodside Avenue has seen several accidents in recent years, including at least five resulting in slight injury and one resulting in serious injury since 1998.

But former chairman of the council's Eastleigh local area committee, Steve Sollitt, said there had been on-going problems since 1976 when the road was extended as part of the Boyatt Wood housing development.

Referring to the 20mph limit he added: "It's good to see it in place at last. It's annoying that it has taken so long but it will improve safety."

Roads leading off Shakespeare Road and included in the restriction are Arrow Close, Hathaway Close, Stratford Close and Byron Road.