The signs will also flash up the speed of the drivers

Parish councillors and residents are to be trained to use roadside Speed Indicator Devices (Sid) across west Berkshire.

The portable Sid displays a smiley face to motorists who are within the speed limit and a sad face to those who are going too fast.

Alan Dunkerton, speed management co-ordinator for West Berkshire Council, said: "Residents are always looking for measures to help reduce speeding and I am sure that Sid will be welcomed with open arms in villages and towns around West Berkshire.

Speeding fines

"We will be looking to train parish councillors to use the device in their areas.

"Once SID is up and running to full capacity we will be in a position to carry out some extremely useful speed surveys."

The portable device can be taken to a number of locations during the course of a day.

Sid's first ports of call are to be sites where residents have already raised concerns about the speed of traffic.

The scheme has been funded by speeding fines paid to the courts and then freed up by the government.