The number of accidents on a Fife road will be reduced by lowering the speed limit, it is claimed.

The A91 between Guardbridge and St Andrews will be reduced to 50mph in an effort to tackle a history of accidents along the route.

The collisions have mostly taken place where minor junctions and drives meet the main road.

Councillors voted to change the speed limit, as well as impose further 40mph limits closest to each of the towns, at a special meeting on Wednesday.

In a report to Fife Council's north east Fife area committee, officers said: "The proposed 50mph speed limit will appropriately address the primary causation of these collisions in the predominately rural section of the route.

"However, it is considered that the cluster of collisions identified at Balgove Larder would be more appropriately addressed by reducing the speed limit to 40mph in advance of the junction and incorporating the service access to Balgove Golf Course.

"Collision data analysis shows the majority of reported collisions were rear-end shunts at junctions/private drivers where queuing traffic can be problematic in high volumes and drivers are travelling too fast to react or misjudging stopping distances."

The committee agreed to introduce the 50mph speed limit on the A91 east of Guardbridge up to the new 40mph limit which runs from 100m west of Balgove Larder junction up to the 30mph town boundary of St Andrews.

In addition, the 40mph limit east of Strathkinness junction was extended by more than 100 metres from Guardbridge.

The total cost of the project is estimated to be around £7500.