Progress towards reducing speeding on rural roads is proceeding at a "snail's pace" - three years after Prime Minister Tony Blair promised action on the issue.

This is the claim of the Council for the Protection of Rural England, which has long campaigned for 30 mph speed limits in all country villages and measures to cut speeds on rural lanes.

The CPRE issued the statement on the third anniversary of a speech made by the Prime Minister in March 2000.

The CPRE says many villages are still blighted by speeding traffic - which will come as no surprise in many Yorkshire Dales communities - and particularly condemns the fact that there is no mention of plans to reduce speeds on rural lanes in a safety bill at present going through Parliament.

The council is urging country folk to write to Ministers and their MPs pressing for swifter action.