School may close danger road

A school in Leicestershire is seeking to close off part of a road to the public in a bid to ensure the safety of pupils.

St Mary's Church of England Primary School in Hinckley, wants to shut the road that runs between two of its buildings.

Pupils at St Mary's have to cross the road to get between the school's main building, and a nearby annexe.

The school estimates the children make a total of over 3,500 journeys a day.

Petition raised

Although St Mary's Road is pedestrianised, parents and teachers say they are still concerned about the children's safety.

The school has put forward plans to close a section of the road between 0900 and 1500 BST on schooldays, and put up lockable gates.

Governors at St Mary's say parents are backing the idea.

Almost 1,000 people have signed a petition in support of the proposal, but it has also attracted 18 letters of complaint, and another petition of objection signed by 129 people.

The county council's cabinet will consider the idea next week.