STEPS towards cutting driving speeds along a York village "rat run" are to be made after an investigation found vehicles often travel at speeds of up to 50mph.

A speed survey by City of York Council officers at Moor Lane in Woodthorpe revealed drivers travelling at speeds well in excess of the 30mph limit.

The study also found that 97 per cent of traffic travels faster than 30mph in Moor Lane and councillors agreed yesterday that action was needed to try to curb the problem of excessive speed in the area. They asked officers to draw up a plan to provide a "gateway" feature at the 30mph limit to encourage drivers to slow down and to look at further measures to reinforce the message.

Liberal Democrat councillor Ann Reid said: "I am pleased that the committee endorsed our concerns over the revelations of the recent surveys.

"We must find ways to cut traffic speeds on Moor Lane before there is a serious accident and it needs all parties to work together to achieve that aim."

Updated: 10:40 Saturday, February 15, 2003