MOTORISTS who disregard road rules now face the embarrassment of being named and shamed as part of a school campaign to make Lodge Lane safer.

Red-faced drivers, who park illegally outside Bewsey Lodge Primary, will be publicly identified over a speaker system as part of the scheme, which was launched following mounting concerns raised by pupils, parents and staff.

Since the initiative began in September, the new approach has been described as a success due to the decline in motorists breaching the parking regulations outside the school.

Kelly Roberts, who is a higher learning teaching assistant at the school, said: "It has made a big difference and it has made people think twice about just parking anywhere.

"The children have been really supportive of it as we have been able to get them involved with it."

Armed with a notebook and pen and donning a high high-vis jacket, twice a week two pupils from year five put their road safety knowledge to the test.

Acting as mini PCSOs, pupils monitor the passing and parked traffic outside the school, noting down the registration plate, make and model of cars that break the rules by parking in an unsafe location.

These details are then read out over the school speakers.

But this is not all - as part of the campaign zig-zag lines have now been implemented after the school’s eco-team, comprising of pupils from year two to year six, handed a petition to the council calling for the road safety measures.

The school is also set to benefit from a new school crossing patrol officer from the new year after lollipop lady, Joan Birchall, retired in December.

Cllr Pat Wright (Bewsey and Whitecross - LAB) was full of praise for the school's proactive approach, which has made a real difference to the area.

She said: "Lodge Lane is now a priority area for a school crossing patrol officer which is absolutely fantastic news and this is down to the work of the mums, dads, pupils, staff and council who have fought hard for this.

"They are doing a great job. They have done so much work and have got the children involved with road safety which is great to see."

Parents' views...

Mum of five Leanne Williams said: "I think it's a good idea. When cars are parked on the side of the road it makes it impossible to cross the road safely."

Joanne Davies, who has two children at the school, said: "Before we used to tell people to move but they would just ignore us. Now they listen when they hear they are called on the speaker."

Mum of three Dawn Allender said: "It is about trying to make the roads safe and it has started to work."

Vicky Pickering, who is a mum of two, said: "Miss Roberts has been the driving force it and it has made a real difference."