Supporters of a campaign to protect Norwich's Mousehold Heath are to look to Europe to see if a way can be found to tackle speeding traffic in the area.

Members of Mousehold Conservators, the independent heritage body set up to protect the heath, have invited the region's MEPs to come and see for themselves traffic problems in the area at a meeting

Concern is growing about traffic along Gurney Road and several key junctions running off the road, but with council budgets facing cuts, the chances of funding any traffic calming measures locally could be limited.

Conservators are also not keen to put in any traffic calming measures such as speed bumps, which could ruin the character of the area.

The move comes as it emerged that Gurney Road could also be used as one of six bus rapid transit lanes into the city as part of measures to cut congestion on roads.

More than 10,00 vehicles use Gurney Road each day amid fears that the 30mph speed limit is routinely ignored.

David Bradford, a city councillor and chairman of the conservators, said the aim of the meeting was to try and find creative solutions to the traffic problems.

'As far as the conservators are concerned, it's a unique location, and we are trying to compare it to a road running through a country park,' Mr Bradford said. 'The county council hasn't got any money, and we wouldn't want to put speed bumps in, so we are looking at the bigger European picture to see if there are any ideas or funding we could use.'

Labour Euro MP Richard Howitt, who will be at the meeting, said: 'Mousehold Heath is the largest outdoor space in Norwich – so we need to do everything we can to make it an attractive and safe place for people to walk, run and play. Slowing cars down through traffic calming measures, and building safer places to cross the road would help reduce accidents and noise.'