A long campaign for a zebra crossing outside Studley Green Primary School has finally paid off making it safer for pupils and their parents to cross.

The Westfield Road school previously had a chicane system outside to slow drivers down, but residents have complained for more than a decade that it was ineffective.

Members of Studley Green Neighbourhood Group said cars would often speed up outside the school to get through the chicanes first, which made it dangerous for children and parents.

However, the existing chicane system has now been removed and replaced with a zebra crossing on Westfield Road, while there are also new lights and a dropped curb in place outside the school as part of the work.

Councillor Helen Osborn said: “We have been working with the residents and the school for a long time to try and get this zebra crossing.

“We feel at long last there is somewhere outside the school for children and their parents to cross safely. It is a vast improvement on what was here before and hopefully it will encourage drivers to slow down.”

It was only after the school put together a school travel plan and the plans went through the Community Area Transport Group that work was able to start on implementing the new pedestrian crossing.

Dave Nutley, of Studley Green Neighbourhood Group, said: “It’s been about 15 years we have been battling to get this zebra crossing. The chicane system has always been a problem and made it even more dangerous.

“Cars were racing to get through the chicane first. The zebra crossing is a great improvement and the lights are also a useful addition with the nights getting dark earlier, so it should make a big difference.”

Lollipop lady Abigail Carr added: “I have only started properly during the last term as it was far too dangerous before the zebra crossing was put in place over the summer holidays.

“The new crossing makes a huge difference.”