SPEED bumps will not be included in a safety scheme on a notorious Bewdley highway - home to two schools - because road bosses said traffic did not travel fast enough along it.

The news that vehicles on Stourport Road were averaging just 28mph during a day's survey was termed "surprising" by a councillor.

Engineering firm Halcrow sent questionnaires to residents but decided against putting in humps as checks revealed the average speed over a 24-hour period was within the 30mph limit.

Plans for a second crossing on the road - where Wribbenhall Middle and Bewdley High schools are based - have also been scrapped following the consultation, carried out for Worcestershire County Council's Safer Routes to School scheme.

County councillor for Wribbenhall Liz Davies said she thought the average speed "would have been higher".

She said: "I have never stood on that road and watched traffic for 24 hours but I have seen it in and outside of school hours and the cars travel much faster than 30mph."

Wyre Forest district councillor for the ward, Ron White, said: "I would have thought it might have been more than that: 28mph is not very fast."

Work is expected to begin in March for a final scheme, which will involve putting in a zebra crossing and friction surfacing, as well as a lay-by outside the middle school.

Mrs Davies said she was happy with the final plans: "I think it's as good as it gets on that road. It has not got the bumps so it is road engineering, rather than traffic calming, which is probably the way forward.

"Whenever you put bumps in, then all people who wanted traffic calming will decide they don't like it because of the noise."

Mr White added: "I would support the residents in anything they consider to be of benefit to them."