THE speed limit on a road where a car collided with two horses and their riders is likely to be reduced.

Horse riders Gemma Roper, 16, and 14-year-old Jennifer Nelson, were injured when a van driven by Kenneth Bailey, of Geneva Crescent, crashed into them in Neasham Road, in Darlington, last December.

The girls' horses, Storm and Tizzy, had to be destroyed following the accident.

Earlier this week Bailey, who admitted driving without due care, was fined £160 by Darlington magistrates.

After the sentence was imposed, Gemma's father, Keith Roper, called for the speed limit on the road to be reduced from 60mph to 40mph.

He said: "Something definitely needs doing about the speed limit on the road.

"It may be a country road, but there are houses, and a lot of horses use the road because of the stables.

"There is a sign to tell drivers that horses are about, but if the speed limit is 60mph that is what people will go at."

Yesterday, Darlington Borough Council said it did have plans to reduce the speed limit on one stretch of the road following an assessment of traffic in the area.

Although unconnected to the horses' deaths, the decision will mean drivers will have to slow down to 40mph on the road between Darlington Football Club's new stadium and the railway bridge.