PLANS to ease the problem of speeding traffic through a village are under way.

Speed limits will be altered on the two main roads into Sadberge as a result of a meeting between local residents, Darlington Borough Council and the police.

Two months ago, residents threatened to barricade all roads into the village unless efforts were made to tackle the traffic chaos.

Their concerns over the number of cars and lorries using the village as a "rat run" since the A66 slip road was built in 2002 had reached boiling point.

Sadberge parish councillor Brian Jones organised a meeting with residents, road safety campaigner Dave Brown, borough council highways safety officer Mike Baxter and Durham Constabulary traffic management officer Mike Straughier.

Coun Jones said: "The meeting was a success and we did decide on a number of changes that will be implemented, hopefully in the near future.

"The existing speed limit signs on Hill House Lane will be reinforced and a 40mph limit will extend further out of the village.

"We also recognised the problem of speeding on Middleton Lane and the fact traffic is only going to get busier with the expansion of the nearby Durham Tees Valley Airport.

"Therefore, the 30mph limit will move closer to the village and there will be a 40mph limit leading up to it."

Mr Brown said: "There were some positive things that came out of the meeting and we hope those measures will slow the traffic down.

"However, we would like to see some physical barriers, such as chicanes, and a reinforced weight restriction that stops huge lorries coming through the village."