More than 100 city streets are set to become 20mph zones – and more could follow.

Leicester City Council plans to impose the speed limit in 114 roads in six areas of the city early next year.

It comes after 84 per cent of the thousands of residents asked for their views gave the proposals their backing.

Assistant city mayor Rory Palmer, the council's transport spokesman, said he was pleased residents were behind the £100,000 scheme.

"I think that it can only be described as overwhelming support, which is excellent for a very important scheme," Councillor Palmer said.

"I think people generally see it as common sense to have 20mph zones around where they live and work.

"The main things that attracts people I think is that they like to have the confidence to let their children walk to school or pop to the shops in safety."

The streets included are in parts of the Westcotes ward and Belgrave West, as well as the Cottesmore Road, Tudor Road, Western Road and Willow Brook Road areas.

The roads, which currently have a 30mph restriction, have been chosen because they already have some traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps, which will make enforcing the new limit easier.

Two further areas – streets around Saxby Street and Maidstone Road, both in Highfields, Leicester – are currently being considered as potential 20mph zones, as part of a rolling scheme to improve road safety around the city.

Coun Palmer said: "As for rolling it out for all residential streets, it is not something we have planned, but at the same time we would not rule it out.

"There are other cities, such as Oxford and Portsmouth, that have 20mph limits on every residential street and we will watch them to see if it makes a difference there."

The council consulted 7,615 residents in six areas of the city during the summer. About 1,500 responded, with 84 per cent supporting the plans.

The public now have until January 3 to lodge any complaints. It is hoped the zones will be in place in March 2012.