DANGEROUS sections of a coast road have been left out of new speed limits designed to increase safety, drivers claimed today.

The new, temporary, 40mph speed limit on the Weymouth-Bridport road was put in by Dorset County Council because its surface is deteriorating.

But residents and workers who use the B3157 were surprised to see they are allowed to increase their speed to 60mph at the bend and blind summit close to Langton Herring.

Clive Rowland, 61, who lives in Malthouse Meadow, Portesham, was shocked when he spotted the changes. He said: "I wondered whether they had made a mistake because the national speed limit returns for the blind bend and the blind summit.

"When you drive through it doesn't look right because you can drive at 40 on the straight road but increase your speed at the dangerous point. When my friend and I spotted it we thought it was ridiculous."

The new 40mph sections were put in place while the council draws up designs for a road safety project, due in 2009-10.

It is thought the road deteriorates more in summer and new surfaces will be considered after an accident analysis.

Kisin Knapp, a barmaid at the Elm Tree Inn, said she has had to call police in the past after finding a car in the bushes near Langton Herring.

She said: "Those corners are the most dangerous part of the road so I think it's silly.

"I don't think you should be doing 60 coming down and over the blind summit as somebody may pull out at the junction.

"It's very dangerous and it's very easy to go on to the wrong side of the road."

Teenager Tom Dowdney, of Chickerell Road, Weymouth, was killed in a crash on the road near Bagwell Farm in 2003 a month after his 18th birthday.

Louisa Hawkins, who works at Bagwell Farm Touring Park, is surprised the road does not remain under the new speed limit at the bend and the blind summit.

She said: "To change it back to 60 at the start of the most dangerous points is a little bit strange really as it is a very dangerous road."

Highways manager at Dorset County Council, Richard Bastow, said: "There is not a problem with that particular section of road therefore the existing speed limit of 60mph remains in place."