ROAD safety improvements have begun appearing at one of Dorset's most beautiful but notorious roads.

Bright yellow raised rumble strips accompanied by the word "Slow" in large lettering have already been painted on the B3082 Wimborne to Blandford road on approach to junctions leading off from it.

The double white lines running down the centre of the road have also been extended in parts and more prominent signing is being installed warning people of the hidden dips on the road.

In addition a public consultation is currently ongoing to extend the 40mph speed limit which currently ends at Hillbutts to beyond the entrance to the Kingston Lacy estate.

The £15,000 worth of improvements follow a meeting between members of Shapwick and Pamphill Parish Council, land-owner the National Trust and Dorset council earlier this year.

The meeting was called after years of lobbying by road safety campaigners concerned about the mounting death toll on the stretch. A double fatal in January was the latest in a long list of accidents.

The busy road is famous for its avenue of beech trees and stunning views of the Dorset countryside but also notorious for its undulating blind dips.

Doug Charmers, of Dorset County Council said: "We have always been aware there were concerns about this road but the double fatal tended to concentrate the minds of people and police and so a number of surveys were carried out with a view to see what we could do."

Mike Croft, chairman of Shapwick Parish Council said: "We asked for the rumble strips and they have gone in and they are good ones too - they make you aware when you are approaching the junctions so that's good.

"They have been repainting the white line markings but some bits still have the dotted line rather than the double solid which is what we want along the whole stretch but on the whole the county does seem to have listened to us and it's encouraging."