ROAD safety chiefs have issued an appeal to motorists in a bid to protect pupils at a Hartlepool primary school.

Officers are concerned that some drivers are ignoring red lights outside Golden Flatts Primary School in Seaton Lane.

The problem was identified following complaints from the school crossing officer, who has reported several incidents of cars driving across the pedestrian crossing outside the school while the lights are red.

Paul Watson, Hartlepool Borough Council's road safety officer, said: "This situation is causing us a lot of concern.

"Cars should never proceed through the crossing while the lights are still on red, regardless of whether anyone is actually still crossing the road.

"We have done a lot of work to try to improve road safety outside a number of schools across the town, but it is vital that motorists support us by not breaking the law.

"In their misguided attempts to save a few minutes on their journeys, drivers who do fail to follow the rules of the road could easily cause a serious accident and that is something we must try to avoid at all cost."

The police have been alerted to the problem and drivers who ignore red lights face a fine.