STUDENT cam­paigners will take a petition calling for a reduction in the speed limit on the new Wye Bridge to the Welsh Assembly after collecting more than 1,000 signatures.

The sixth formers from Wyedean School want the speed limit reduced from 50mph to 30mph on the bridge to reduce the risk to hundreds of students who cross between Chepstow and Sedbury each day.

They took their campaign to the streets of Chepstow where they secured another 480 signatures for the petition taking the total to nearly 1,100.

Campaigner Anna Dewar said: "The speed limit on the road coming down to the bridge is 30mph and we would like to see that extended across the bridge."

A dozen students were joined by the head of sixth form Mr Jonathan Lane and town councillors David Dovey – who is also vice-chairman of Monmouthshire Council – Hilary Beach, Peter Farley and Dale Rooke.

Ms Dewar said: "We generally received a positive response from members of the public and collected another 480 signatures for our petition bringing our total to almost 1,100.

"Our target was 1,000 signatures and we are very happy to have surpassed this.

"We are planning to present our petition to the Welsh Assembly in a couple of weeks.

"Before then we will continue to try to gain more signatures, but we are very happy with the number we have at present. "

Councillor Beach said: "The campaign has been very impressive and deserves to achieve the reduction in the speed limit.

Councillor Dovey said: "The campaign has been outstanding and all those involved should be congratulated."

Chepstow Town Coun­cil helped when the campaign hit a technical hitch with the wording of the petition, although all the signatures remained valid.

The wording had to be changed and an organisation was needed to sign the new petition and the town council was happy to step in.