A Bearsted mum is celebrating after her campaign to reduce the speed limit on a busy school route was successful.

Karen Alabaster-Oliver set up a petition to make Roseacre Lane a 20mph zone after her daughter was clipped by a speeding car last October on her way to Thurnham Infants.

The 38-year-old graphic designer had been at the junction with Tower Lane where she lives, with her four-year-old twins Tiani and Lilly and four-month-old baby Fynley when they were victims of a near-miss.

A BMW swerved to avoid a dust cart and brushed past them.

Hundreds of people supported the petition including other parents and local businesses including Bearsted Post Office and Page and Wells estate agents who collected signatures and printed posters.

Mrs Alabaster-Oliver said she was delighted the campaign had received backing from Kent County Council (KCC) leader Paul Carter and the local community.

She said she was pleased Mr Carter could see the popular route used by people heading to an infants and junior school, plus Bearsted railway station, was extremely dangerous.

She said: “The lanes are regularly used as a rat-run and cut through by speeding motorists. There are no footpaths along the majority of them and in places are only wide enough for one car to pass.

“Hopefully by reducing the speed limit, it will draw attention to motorists that these lanes do need to be driven cautiously and that they are used constantly by pedestrians who are naturally in danger by having to walk in the road – and ultimately save further potential accidents or worse.”

The new limit is now in place along Roseacre Lane, Tower Lane and Yeoman Lane, reduced from 30mph.