RESIDENTS have accused the council and police of 'sneaky' tactics after reducing the speed limit along Lunts Heath Road.

Motorists in the area have argued small road signs noting a change in the speed limit from 40 to 30mph at the start and end of the road are not enough to make drivers who regularly use the road aware.

One homeowner said: "That road must have been 40mph for more than 10 years so you can't just change it without telling people.

"It feels really sneaky as there's no 30mph signs.

"All they have done instead is install two tiny signs at the start and end of the road saying there's been a change in the speed limit and even they're not very visible.

"It's probably the right thing to do as there is a lot of houses along the road now but it feels wrong the way they have gone about it.

"They must have caught out a lot of motorists with this change."

Halton Borough councillors discussed a changed in speed limit in June this year after requests from residents and a ward member to reduce the speed limit.

The councillors heard traffic in the area had increased by 20 per cent in 2013 compared to 2002.

The report also noted between 2012 and 2014 there were no road traffic collisions involving injury reported to Cheshire Police.

A Cheshire Police spokesman refused to confirm how many motorists have been caught speeding on the road since the change unless a Freedom of Information request was submitted.

A Halton Borough Council spokesman added: "The change was advertised on 4 August 2016 in the local media.

"The police have been consulted about the signs for the speed limit change and are happy that they are sufficient."