COUNTY councillors are considering introducing 20mph limits around schools in Accrington and Colne to protect children from speeding cars.

The two towns have been chosen to take part in a pilot scheme that will see drivers asked to reduce their speed in residential areas.

According to county hall officers, research showed the risk of a child being involved in an accident reduced by about two-thirds where 20mph zones were installed.

The county council is also hoping the move will make more adults and children walk or cycle to school.

County councillors will vote on whether to adopt the scheme at a meeting later in the year.

"Forming a self-enforcing 20mph zone in roads surrounding the school would be likely to reduce the frequency of accidents not only in the vicinity of the school where generally few accidents occur but also on the routes that children take to that school," a spokesman said.

Several 20mph zones have already been installed in residential areas and the latest move comes after the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) jointly published Travelling to School: A Good Practice Guide.

In the document they called on local transport authorities to consider the case for 20mph zones around schools.

Speed readings will be taken before high visibility signs telling drivers when they are entering and leaving the new 20mph zones are installed.

The speed of vehicles will be measured again to see if the scheme is having any affect. If successful the scheme could be rolled out to other parts of Lancashire.