ANYONE driving through the Marsh area should be on the look out for a multi-coloured tortoise!

A new 20 mph zone for the area came into force this week with signs designed by local schoolchildren.

And the artistic endeavours of two pupils, Charley Brennand and Holly Gibbs, has led to the creation of road signs which both feature a tortoise and send out the message to drivers to 'slow down.'

The 20 mph zone includes Willow Lane between its junction with West Road and its junction with Westbourne Road and all roads coming off Willow Lane along this stretch.

The Marsh Estate is also included after road humps were completed earlier this year following a long campaign by local residents.

Ward councillor, Jon Barry, said: "I am delighted that the new zone is to finally come about and also that local children have had an input into designing signs for the scheme.

Reducing speed is a vital ingredient to making the Marsh area a safer place for young and old alike."

To mark their achievement both Charley and Holly were presented with certificates and so was their school, Williow Lane Community School.

County Cllr Jonathan Sear, whose Lancaster City Division covers the Marsh area, said: "Getting this 20 mph zone has been a real team effort.

Residents have kept up the pressure and, together with support from Councillors, City and County Council officers, the SRB community forum and the police, it has finally paid off."

Charley's sign features a tortoise plus the words "Slow Down" while Holly's design is of a hedgehog, a snail and a tortoise saying things such as "I wish they would slow down" and "Hold it, people crossing!