Speed limits could be raised up to 60mph through roadworks as Highways England looks to combat congestion and lessen the impact of repairs.

The government-owned company has been testing different speed limits since September 2016, and in two further tests found drivers' heart rates were lower when driving faster through roadworks.

Jim O'Sullivan, chief executive of Highways England, told the Times newspaper that the 60mph limit was "something that we want to introduce to as many roadworks as possible".

But he revealed to the publication that for safety reasons, lower speeds are likely to be maintained in areas with narrow lanes, contraflows or where workers are close to the road.

Mr O'Sullivan also said the "volume of roadworks that the network and our users can cope with is probably reaching its peak".

"If we're going to have this volume of roadworks, we need to have some serious thought about how we improve the customer experience," he added.

Highways England said it has been considering rolling out a 55mph limit or a 60mph limit, where it is safe to do so.