THERE is to be a spring offensive against speeders in the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area and leading the way will be young people urging motorists to think about road safety.

The Times is linking up with Central Fife Crime Prevention Panel, the Cowdenbeath Area Committee and the Community Police team to promote the campaign to try to get motorists in the area to stick to the 20, 30 and 40mph limits in the built up areas and 70 on the A92 which runs past both Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly.

At Wednesday's meeting of the Panel Community Police officers, Gavin Keith and Britney Primeau, reported that the Junior Road Safety Officers at several local primary schools were to be taking to the road near their school in a bid to calm traffic speeds and increase road safety.

PC Primeau said: "The schools have set up Junior Road Safety teams and they go out periodically on the roads near the schools and if people are speeding they can be notified.

"Speeding is something which is affecting a lot of roads in the area and the 20, 30 and 40 limits are frequently breached."

PC Keith added: "The Junior Road Safety Officers are really enthusiastic and are fully aware of the dangers excess speed can cause on the roads around their schools.

"It is certainly something which is affecting roads in every one of our communities and hopefully the campaign can have an impact."

Panel vice chairman, Dave Roy, said that Panel was keen to see the safety of the local roads increased and they would be happy to work with the Junior Road Safety teams.

"It is excellent to see young pupils going to and trying to get the road safety message across to people who should really know that it is wrong to exceed the speed limit," said Mr Roy.

He proposed that the Panel should sponsor special tops for the Road Safety teams to wear when they are on their hunt for speeders and this was unanimously agreed by members.

The campaign is to get into full gear in April, but meantime Mr Roy appealed to motorists to think 'road safety' and adhere to speed limits.