EXTRA speed limit signs will be installed in a town centre after highways engineers conceded that the existing scheme could not be enforced.

Richmond resident Chris Bailey contacted North Yorkshire County Council and the police after noticing that a 20mph zone, imposed in the town two months ago, was not legally binding.

Mr Bailey, of White Friars Gardens in the town, said that, by law, small repeater signs should be installed along roads in a 20mph area. The existing zone has speed signs at the edges only.

Mike Woodford, county council area highways manager, said repeater signs could be installed before the end of the week.

"We don't want to litter the town centre with signs, so they won't be going into the Market Place, but they will be installed on surrounding roads," said Mr Woodford, who denied that there had been an oversight.

Roundels with the speed limit would also be painted on the roads, he said.

Mr Bailey said: "It would be a tragedy if an irresponsible driver was to avoid prosecution because of unenforceable limits."

The 20mph zone is part of a traffic calming scheme that also includes speed humps and a chicane in Victoria Road, which town councillors say is dangerous.

They say drivers race to get through the single-track chicane. The county council is reviewing the arrangement.