Work is set to begin on the 20mph pilot scheme in south Bristol next month.

Most of Southville, Bedminster and Windmill Hill will be included in the zone, which was approved by Bristol City Council in February.

Signs and road markings will alert motorists at the boundaries of the scheme, while smaller 20mph repeater signs will be placed within the zone to remind drivers of the new speed limit.

The work is set to start on installing the signs on Wednesday, April 7, at a cost of £250,000.

There will be no speed cameras or speed humps controlling the speed limit, which will have to be enforced by the police.

Council officers are monitoring the area before and after the pilot to see how well it works.

A number of areas will be looked at including vehicle speeds, bus journey reliability, road casualties, noise and air quality, health and community issues.

The project has been developed as part of the much-criticised £22 million Cycling City project.

The council hopes it will encourage more people to take up walking and cycling, improve road safety and help the environment.

Highways officials had originally wanted to include a small number of specific streets in the zones, but after a positive response from the public, it was decided to expand the scheme.

After negotiations between the police and council officers, Malago Road, St John's Lane and a 22 metre length of Dalby Avenue were taken out of the zone.

Councillor Jon Rogers, executive member for transport and sustainability, said: "Twenty is plenty where people live. It makes a safer, quieter, friendlier neighbourhood.

"I'm delighted to support this first pilot and its partner in East Bristol.

"The initiative has had strong cross-party support, and encouragement from residents, businesses and other organisations.

"We have included roads with shops, schools and parks. If the pilots prove successful, we expect other areas of the city to follow."

The first three 20mph zones were introduced in Sheffield, Kingston-upon-Thames and Norwich in 1991, and there are now 450 such zones across the country.