TRAFFIC calming measures designed to put the brakes on 'joy boys' are to be installed at Biggar Bank, Walney, councillors have decided.

The Cumbria County Council scheme, costing around £20,000, has officially been given the go-ahead by Barrow Local Committee.

The measures aim to break up the long straight of Biggar Bank Road where racers heavily accelerate as the road speed switches between 30mph and 60mph. The new scheme could be installed by the end of the year.

It aims to cut the speed of cars to 20mph after numerous complaints from residents about drivers speeding past their homes. The county council said it would involve signage and lining as well as chicanes.

Cllr Frank Cassidy, the Labour councillor for the area, has been campaigning for the measures with county council highways bosses.

He said: "The majority of motorists drive at sensible speeds but some joy boys have been using Biggar Bank Road as a racetrack and that situation has to end.

"We have been talking to residents for a long time about the best way of introducing effective traffic calming measures and I am grateful to council officer for their work.

Chicanes and other measures will be installed which Cllr Cassidy said would make things safer for residents and all who use the area.

The county council installed special devices last year outside an address on Ocean Road and West Shore Social Club to monitor the amount of traffic over the course of a week.

It showed 85 percent of drivers were travelling at 32mph or below at both sites.

The study showed that more cars tended to accelerate when travelling towards The Roundhouse restaurant on Ocean Road and towards Thorny Nook Lane on Biggar Bank Road.