Plans to introduce a 20mph speed limit in Jericho and Walton Manor have been welcomed by Oxford councillors and community groups.

Oxfordshire County Council's engineer Richard Ponchaud said the zone would cover streets from Woodstock Road to the eastern side of the railway line, including Walton Well Road, Bainton Road and Beaumont Street.

The plans were presented to Oxford City Council's central, south and west committee ahead of a decision in April by the county council's transport implementation committee.

The proposed zones, which are out to public consultation until February 27, will be enforced with a series of warning signs.

Oxford Civic Society chairman Tony Joyce said: "I very much welcome this introduction of these zones. They will need to be very well signed to have effect."

He suggested any signs were painted on the roads rather than positioned on pavements.

Committee chairman Bob Price said it was important that the signs were not obtrusive.

Mr Ponchaud said he had received positive feedback from people affected by the plans.

He added: "The proposals came about following requests from residents in Kingston Road and the Oxford Transport Strategy working party."

Susanna Pressel, ward councillor for Jericho and Osney, said: "I have been campaigning for this for many years. I am pleased the county council is at last looking at it."

But vice-chairman Tony Brett, councillor for Holywell, said that while he supported the zones he did not believe people would observe the speed limit.

He added: "I'm hugely in favour of it, but whether it will make any difference is another matter.

"People ignore traffic restrictions all the time.

"I don't believe anyone will pay a blind bit of notice."