SPEEDING at accident blackspots in Darlington has been halved thanks to a device that flashes up motorists' speeds as they approach.

The success of the speed visors could lead to more of them being installed around the town if Darlington Borough Council decides to expand the scheme when it is reviewed next year.

Durham County Council says it has also started using speed visors, with one due to be installed in a speeding problem area in Aycliffe Village.

A spokeswoman for the county council said: "Although we have not got any data at the moment to show how effective the visors are in County Durham, we do use them and believe they are effective."

Police tell the council where the worst areas for speeding are and the portable device is installed there for several weeks.

Once motorists slow down in that area, the speed visor is moved to another hotspot.

In Darlington, the devices are in place for two weeks at a time at each site, every six months.

Research has shown that the units are effective, with the numbers of vehicles travelling within the speed limit in the target areas in Darlington increasing from 30 per cent to 62 per cent, a council spokesman said.

As well as helping to reduce speeding, the device can also be used to monitor traffic speeds and patterns.

The information is then passed to the relevant council departments to help with safety improvements and traffic planning.

Nick Wallis, Darlington council's cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "The response from residents has been very positive.

"The device has proved it can help to improve road safety in a given area and can provide us with the information we need to plan improvements to our roads.

"Road safety is a priority for the council, and this device has proved itself to be effective in helping to cut speeds and, in turn, making roads safer for pedestrians and other users."

The units are currently in place in Brinkburn Road, Darlington, and in Station Road, Middleton St George.

One will be installed on the 167 In Aycliffe Village soon.