SPEED limits are being reduced to 20mph in four different areas across the borough to improve road safety near schools.

St Helens Council, which has confirmed the decrease from 30mph, aims to put the brakes on drivers near where children gather, particularly at drop off and pick up times.

There is also an eagerness to encourage more walking and cycling.

The local authority confirmed the streets will join more than 30 residential areas and eight commercial centres across the borough which applied the new limits in the past few years. 

The new zones are: the Lyme Street/Wrigley Road estate, in Haydock, Hamilton Road/Coronation Drive area, in Windle, Saleswood Avenue/Pinfold Drive/The Avenue, in Eccleston and Derwent Road/Newlands Road, Haresfinch.

The Lyme Street/Wrigley Road Estate, in Haydock is a large residential area is served by A599 Church Road to the north and also lead into a number of internal roads acting as cul de sacs. Within that site is St James CE School.

The Hamilton Road/Coronation Road area, Windle is also near a school with Bleak Hill Community Primary being served directly from Hamilton Road and Fairway.

Traffic calming measures are already in place along both Hamilton Road and Coronation Drive which carries the heaviest volume of traffic passing through the residential area.

The Saleswood Avenue/Pinfold Drive/The Avenue Area, in Eccleston caters to Eccleston Mere CP School, which is served directly by Saleswood Avenue, where traffic calming measures are already in place along its length.

The Derwent Road/Newlands Road estate, home to St Peter and St Paul RC School, fronts Derwent Road as well as Haresfinch United Reformed Church, where many elderly people worship.