Calls for temporary 20mph zones to be introduced outside schools across the city will be led by a Norwich MP at a meeting this weekend.

Chloe Smith, Norwich North MP, will join a public meeting organised by the 20s Plenty for Us campaign on Saturday during which she will discuss the merits of reducing speeds in some areas, particularly near schools.

Miss Smith has been campaigning for solutions to problems parents and children experience at some school sites, including Magdalen Gates Primary School and St Williams Way Primary, and is in favour of temporary 20mph zones outside schools.

She said they balance the needs of parents and children without disrupting the needs of traffic at other times.

Miss Smith said: 'Speeding can be a real problem near schools and in quiet residential areas.

'In many cases, parents and residents want 20mph because it can be much safer for children and all road users. It is important to look at the local circumstances to try to get it right, and most importantly, the community has to lead the change, because drivers are part of the community too. I look forward to hearing people's views at this important public meeting.'

The meeting, which takes place at the United Reformed Church on Princes Street from 6pm will also be attended by Richard Bearman, Norfolk County Councillor for Mancroft ward in the city, Anna Semlyen, 20's Plenty for Us national campaign manager and Judith Lubbock, a Norwich City Councillor for Eaton.

The meeting comes less than three months after it emerged Norfolk County Council was investigating the possibility of introducing 20mph zones outside schools across the county.

It represented a new twist in a long-running campaign which appeared to have stalled in 2010 because of the £550,000 cost of introducing a blanket 20mph limit in Norwich's residential streets.

Norwich's Liberal Democrats first mooted the 20mph idea several years ago, and three areas - Newmarket Street and Vauxhall Street area, Borrowdale Drive and Marl Pit Lane - were picked for a trial.

The results showed speeds in Borrowdale Drive have been reduced slightly by up to one mph, but there was little impact on the traffic speeds around the other two pilot areas, which were already generally compliant with 20mph.

Miss Smith, who has also looked to help tackle speeding motorists in Borrowdale Drive by encouraging people to set up a community speed watch group is encouraging others elsewhere in the city to do the same.

At least six volunteers are needed to start up a scheme which involves members of the public being trained to use speedguns to deter speeding.

For more information about setting up a Speed Watch Group, people should contact chloe@chloesmith.org.uk or contact their local police team on 101 to get started.