NINE village roads in West Sussex will have their speed limits cut in a new bid to reduce accidents.

They were chosen from a shortlist of 80 locations after experts looked at the potential for serious accidents.

The impact of the new speed limits will be kept under review for the next six months before a decision is made about making them permanent.

In some areas the speed limit is being halved from 60mph to 30mph.

The speed limits were first advertised last December and there were no objections.

County Hall says if the speed limits have an impact on reducing the number of accidents, they could be extended to other areas.

A spokesman said: "Research has shown that nationally about 1,200 people are killed on the roads as a result of excessive speed."

The village roads affected are B2114 Staplefield (40mph from 60mph); A281 Bucks Green (30mph from 40mph); C8 Maplehurst (40mph from 60mph).

C8 Nuthurst (30mph from 60mph); A281 Lower Beeding (40mph from 60mph); B2139 Thakeham (30mph from 60mph); B2135 Ashurst (30mph from 60mph); A286 Fernhurst (30mph from 40mph); A286 West Dean (40mph from 60mph); and B2132 Walberton/Yapton Lane (40mph from 60mph).

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