TRAFFIC calming measures are finally to be introduced on a County Durham road, 11 years after a child was knocked down and killed there.

Adam Setterfield, aged seven, died when he was hit by a speeding car on Dunelm Road, in his home village of Thornley, near Peterlee, in 1991.

The car which struck Adam was travelling at 60mph. Family video footage of the youngster was later featured in a Government campaign urging drivers to slow down.

Following Adam's death, a campaign was started to make the area safer for pedestrians.

Now, thanks to funding from the New Thornley Partnership, Durham County Council and the Safe Routes to School initiative, work on the final improvements is set to start.

One of the last areas to be tackled is Dunelm Road, where 12 to 13 cushions, instead of the chicanes that were originally planned, will be installed, after residents said they would prefer them.

It is hoped that about £700 collected by the campaigners can be put towards the devices.

There will also be improvements to roads around Thornley County Primary School.

Those improvements will include the relocation of school safety zone signs, dragon's teeth road markings and red thermoplastic road markings. The total programme will cost more than £20,000.

Councillor Greg Wharrier, secretary of the New Thornley Partnership, said he that he was confident the safety measures will solve the problem of speeding.

"Now that we are coming to the end of the traffic calming scheme, we just have to sit back and see if it works," said Coun Wharrier.

"I'm hoping we have succeeded, and I think we are finally there. I hope what happened to Adam never happens again, and when I have spoken to his mother, she has seemed pleased with the situation."

Coun Wharrier said work on the final improvements is planned to start soon and be finished by March.

Among the measures already introduced are a mini roundabout, a traffic island, chicanes and speed humps