A LED warning sign will be moved to a new speeding hotspot in Westhoughton.

The sign which tells motorists if they are breaking the speed limit will be moved from its current position in Church Street to Lower Leigh Road.

Cllr David Chadwick, who represents Central ward, suggested the sign was moved to Lower Leigh Road because of speeding drivers He said: “We can get drivers going towards Westhoughton or towards Leigh. We could flip the sign around. It would give you a specific scope for vehicles going into Westhoughton. When we want to flip it around we can.”

He proposed the sign be moved to a spot near St James’ Church vicarage.

Cllr David Wilkinson, who represents Hoskers and Hart Common, said the sign should face drivers entering Westhoughton.

He said the only way drivers would reduce their speed was if they were faced with a penalty.

He said: “I can understand if it’s to slow people coming into Westhoughton as people do fly up the road.

“Yes, people shouldn’t be breaking the speed limit but if somebody goes off the road in Lower Leigh Lane they will go into fields or the brook. I would prefer the sign was used to reduce the speed of traffic coming into Westhoughton at the Hartford Road roundabout.”

Cllr Karen Lawrinson, who represents White Horse ward, said there were more pressing reasons to slow down cars entering Westhoughton.

Cllr Sean Harkin, who represents Daisy Hill Ward, said drivers slow down going into Westhoughton because of the roundabout, but said people are always going to be tempted to drive faster when leaving the town.

Councillors voted in favour of moving the sign.