THREE Hampshire villages are set to see 20 miles per hour speed limits introduced in a county council pilot scheme.

Micheldever, Chilbolton in the Test Valley and Dummer near Basingstoke are set to see traffic speed cut in a 12-month experiment.

Surveys and questionnaires will then be undertaken to see if the limit should be introduced more widely.

Residents in Micheldever have been lobbying for 20 mph for several years. The village has a primary school, shop, pub and church.

Chilbolton was chosen because it has few pavements but a shop, pub and church.

Dummer Parish Council first requested 20mph more than five years ago. It declined a 30mph limit because it felt 20 was more suitable.

The county council Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment, Sean Woodward, is due to make a decision on Tuesday May 6.

Afterwards villagers will be consulted on the extent of the 20 mph zone. Speed surveys will also be undertaken.

Where residents clearly favour the limit a traffic order will be advertised. The earliest date for the new limits is January 2015.

Twenty mph schemes are currently being introduced in urban residential areas including Winnall and Stanmore in Winchester.