A 13-year-old girl is among hundreds of people calling for a restricted speed limit in Newington.

Lucy Venables presented a petition with more than 600 signatures for a 20mph limit to councillors at the Swale Joint Transportation Board meeting at Swale House, on Monday, September 10.

With her mum Jayne, she asked for the change at all roads leading to the village, including the A2 High Street.

The pupil of Westlands School told councillors her friends do not feel safe walking from one side of the village to the other.

"If we had a 20mph speed limit in the village we would be more likely to walk or cycle to meet up, or to use the rec, rather than sit indoors on social media," she said.

"This is the route that children walk from the local primary school to the rest of the village.

"Some of the pathways in Newington are very narrow, and there is no room to widen them, including those on School Lane and Church Lane.

"Small children are unable to ride their scooters or bikes on the paths in these areas as traffic tears past, literally centimetres from them.

"In the last 10 years there have been at least 36 accidents, including fatal, in the area that we would like to see covered by the 20mph zone."

"This is the route that children walk from the local primary school" - Lucy Venables

She then held up a picture of a car which landed on its roof outside her home in March 2016.

A day before the meeting the youngster witnessed a car, which appeared to be going over the speed limit, had to drive over a neighbour's garden as it could not stop in time.

Mum Jayne then told the meeting traffic often goes over the current 30mph, which can mean people find it hard to stop at pedestrian crossings.

Lucy pointed to research which showed only 20% of people hit by a car doing 40mph survive, compared to a 90% survival rate for people hit by something going at 20mph.

Newington Parish Councillor Richard Palmer (Ind) is supporting the petition.

Mr Palmer said: "I think it's something we should've done a long time ago."

He added not only does it reduce the risk of death or serious injury in a crash but 20mph zones are also known to reduce pollution.

A report will be put together for the Swale Joint Transportation Board to consider the petition at the group's meeting in December.