Leicestershire  villagers plagued by speeding motorists have become the first in the county to own and operate a flashing warning sign.

The sign, which is triggered by motorists driving over the speed limit, was switched on in Forest Road, Woodhouse, yesterday.

It is the first village to receive a sign as part of a Leicestershire County Council scheme offering community groups and parish councils the opportunity to buy and run their own.

For Woodhouse, two signs were bought for £3,000 with a grant from the Bradgate Area Community Forum.

Woodhouse Parish Council clerk Ann Irving said: "Speeding traffic was the hottest topic arising from the parish plan.

"We have more than 60 volunteers who have carried out three Community Speedwatch sessions.

"We have worked closely with the highways department to get engineering work carried out on the roads but speed is still a problem.

"We hope the signs being there will educate people and make them realise how fast they're going and make them check their speed."

Villagers said motorists regularly speed along Beacon Road in Woodhouse Eaves and Forest Road in Woodhouse – where the speed limit is 30mph – en route to or from the M1.

Woodhouse traffic watch committee co-ordinator Liz Randall said: "We wanted to take action after questionnaires showed 72 per cent of residents were unhappy about speeding traffic.

"Since then, we've been involved with the community speed watch initiative which reiterated that vehicles were travelling too fast in Woodhouse.

"The new sign will flash up the speed of approaching traffic and is designed to make drivers think.

"By using it in a number of hotspots, we're hoping this will slow motorists and make a difference to the village."

The portable signs can be used at a number of sites.

Over the next couple of months, signs will also be used in Cotesbach, Great Bowden, Croft Huncote, East Goscote, Cossington Queniborough, Dadlington, Sutton Cheney, Stoke Golding, Lutterworth, Husbands Bosworth, Pickwell, Somerby, Burrough-on-the-Hill, Glenfield, Broughton Astley and Lubenham.

County council transport and environment spokesman Lesley Pendleton said: "The county council and the police already work hard to control speeding and this scheme will complement this work.

"Our objective is to continue to reduce casualties on our roads and this new mobile technology gives communities the chance to play a part.

"People can contribute to making roads safer in their community."