HAMPSHIRE road chiefs are slamming the brakes on motorists who speed through an accident blackspot on the A3057 near King's Somborne.

Monday sees the introduction of 40mph speed limits at Lower Brook and Brook between King's Somborne and the Mottisfont turning. Villagers have campaigned for action for years following a number of fatalities and serious injury accidents. Gateway-style entrances will be introduced on the approaches to both villages.

This will include red coloured anti-skid strip surfacing across the width of the A3057 and Brook and Lower Brook nameplates underneath each 40 speed limit sign.

New speed limits will also be applied north of King's Somborne and south of Timsbury. Businessman and Brook resident Anthony de Sigley welcomed the new traffic-calming measures - aimed at cutting the carnage.

"Naturally the residents of Brook will be delighted when this comes into effect. Some of the residents of Brook have been lobbying for this to happen for the best part of 20 years, so for some concrete action to finally take place will be a great source of satisfaction," said Mr de Sigley.

He added: " We welcome the changes being implemented, which will significantly contribute to road safety on a number of high-risk stretches of the A3057. Not only will the lower speed limits reduce the number of accidents, they will help outlying communities, such as our little hamlet of Brook, integrate better, to-date the A3057 has been a real physical barrier to developing our local community."

An Andover motorcyclist died in an accident outside Mr de Sigley's home in 2003. Mr de Sigley said others had escaped death by a whisker in numerous crashes in the locality.

Mr de Sigley concluded: "It is also reassuring that in an age of more distant, faceless bureaucrats and non-elected bodies who have ever decreasing public accountability but who control more and more of our lives, that the voice of public opinion, if loud enough, still hold sway."

King's Somborne Parish Council's chairman David Bidwell said the measures were long overdue but a welcome move.

Mr Bidwell, who has spearheaded the campaigning for speed limits in the King's Somborne area said: " We have been looking forward to this for sometime. We hope together with police enforcement action the new measures will lead to a reduction is speed-related accidents. It has taken five years to get this. Had it been done sooner it would have saved lives." And Hampshire's deputy leader and Test Valley Central division member, Michael Woodhall, said:

"Sadly there has been a number of serious accidents on the A3057 Romsey to Stockbridge section in recent years. Whilst a number of these involved motorcyclists who were known to use this route for fast recreational use, in addition the road is heavily used by commuters and commercial vehicles, accessing nearby towns and the city of Southampton. Hampshire County Council has recognised the need to introduce further safety measures along the A3057 after intense consultation with residents living in communities along the route."