HAMPSHIRE’S police and crime commissioner has stepped into the row over speed limits on a notorious road where a teenage girl lost her life.

Simon Hayes says he “shared the concerns” of local residents and motorists and is arranging top level talks with his counterpart in Dorset to discuss the matter.

As reported, campaigners have been fighting for a new 50mph limit on the A31 at Ringwood and have the backing of more than 1,000 local residents.

But just days after they were told by highways chiefs that not enough people had been injured to justify it, 16-year-old Jade Clark was killed on the same stretch of road when her red moped was in collision with several vehicles.

One of them was a silver Volvo XC90 that drove off from the scene and the driver is now being hunted by police.

As reported on Saturday, a reward of £1,000 is being offered for information leading an arrest and conviction.

Jade's parents are to speak at a press conference today.

Mr Hayes has asked for accident and fatality figures on the A31 and said he was “disturbed” by the latest incident in which Jade was killed.

He said: “I share the concerns of those who are lobbying for a reduction in the speed limit on the A31. I am equally disturbed about this latest tragic incident which occurred just over the border in Dorset.

“I have since requested a detailed summary of incidents within the Hampshire stretch of the A31 from the constabulary's roads policing unit and when I am in possession of those facts I will be better placed to make a more informed view about any value I could add to the debate.

“I will also be speaking to Martyn Underhill, the PCC for Dorset, to seek his views on the issue.”

Angry campaigners are threatening to take the matter straight to the Department of Transport in light of the Highways Agency declaring the route, between Picket Post and the Ashley Heath roundabout, not sufficiently dangerous to warrant a reduction.

Councillors are also refusing to take “no” for an answer and have vowed to carry on lobbying for a speed reduction.

They are being backed by Conservative MP Desmond Swayne who has tried |for 15 years to have |the speed limit on the road cut and said the refusal was “very frustrating” and “bureaucracy”.