A TRAFFIC scheme in the heart of Morecambe has won a national award for improving road safety.

Poulton Home Zone has been named the Urban Traffic Scheme of the Year' at Highways magazine excellence awards.

The award recognises the scheme's visionary design and implementation that has significantly' enhanced road safety.

The Home Zone scheme was co-ordinated by Lancaster City Council's engineering services department with Lancashire Highways Partnership and Poulton Neighbourhood Management, and built by contractors Cumbrian Industrials and Capita Symonds.

Mike Thompson, of Cumbrian Industrials, says: "We are very proud of the work we have completed. The Poulton area has now received national recognition and we are grateful for the contributions residents made to the success of the scheme ."

The concept of the Home Zone scheme was to give the streets back to the residents' by improving traffic safety and creating space for children to play safely.

It included major restructuring of the streetscape around Clarence Street, Green Street and Clark Street with new lights and bollards.

Care and consideration was also taken to use traditional materials - and wherever possible items from the original street were recycled.

Judges said the project demonstrated good resident involvement and attention to detail.