A TRAFFIC calming scheme costing £34,000 is to be implemented as part of improvements to an estate.

The William Sutton Trust has offered the money to enable the introduction of a 20mph speed limit in the Sutton Trust area of Saltersgill, Middlesbrough.

While there has only been one accident in the area in the past five years, residents have complained of a recent increase in speeding vehicles and through traffic.

The current accident record means that the Sutton Trust Estate would be unlikely to win council funding for speed reduction measures.

But at a meeting of Middlesbrough Borough Council's cabinet next week, the trust's offer to step in is expected to be welcomed.

A programme of improvements for the area by the council and the trust began in 1997, and has resulted in work on roads, footways, street lighting and landscaping.

Due for completion in the next financial year, it will cost about £600,000 in total, with the council and the trust paying half each.

Earlier this year, leaflets were distributed to residents asking for their views on the proposed speed restrictions, which include constrcuting four gateway entry points, eight road humps and two raised junctions.

Of the 49 replies received, every one was in favour of the measures.

A report to the cabinet states: "While traffic calming was not part of the original proposal, the estate is ideally suited to the implementation of a 20mph zone."