SPEEDING motorists are being stopped in their tracks - thanks to Cononley schoolchildren.

A 20mph zone has been created in a bid to stop drivers speeding through the village and using it as a rat run.

And to help hammer the message home, Cononley Primary School pupils have given the signs a personal touch with their own designs.

But despite welcoming the new traffic calming scheme, the parish council believes it needs some fine tuning.

At Tuesday's meeting, residents and councillors expressed concern about some of the markings.

One resident of Aire View said there was confusion over whether people could park on solid white lines.

And outgoing chairman, Coun Denis Coleman, said: "The traffic calming is nice to see, but is quite irrelevant. It's not doing a job at all."

Councillors also pointed out that rumble strips on the road could be dangerous for cyclists and motorcyclists.

However, Coun Mark Allum said all the scheme needed was some fine tuning.

"We are very pleased that we have got the 20mph speed limit at last, but we do need some tweaks to make it work properly."

The speed limit signs include designs by children from the village primary school.

And headteacher Glenys Lofthouse said she was convinced the children's designs would help persuade people to cut their speed.

The school was asked to get involved by North Yorkshire County Council, which has used children's designs on similar schemes across the county.

Mrs Lofthouse said: "When they went up we were delighted. All the classes have gone to have a look at them," she said.

All pupils in the school came up with a design and the best were chosen to feature on the signs.

Mrs Lofthouse added: "The winners will also get a quarter size replica of their design to keep forever."

The signs, together with speed tables, are at four locations in the village - at Crosshills Road, Skipton Road, Main Street and Netherghyll Lane.

Parish clerk David Gulliver said: "We won't get everyone to slow down to 20mph, but it will reduce the overall speed."

Police officers will carry out speed checks from time to time, but the idea is that it will be self-policed.

And Mr Gulliver believed that the children's additions would help attract attention.

"It makes them a bit more local and it's created a talking point and children will take more notice," he added.