ROAD safety officers have been stationed outside a North-East school this week asking to parents not to drop their children off by car.

The first week of the new academic year saw the launch of an initiative in Gateshead to encourage parents to leave their cars at home and allow their children to walk or cycle to school.

Parents dropping off their children at Oakfield Junior and Infants School, in Low Fell on Thursday were given a leaflet describing plans to tackle dangerous congestion at school gates and to improve road safety on pedestrian routes.

The school was chosen for the launch because of its location on a steep and busy road linking the A167 Durham Road in Low Fell with the Team Valley.

Road safety officers are appealing to parents to support their local school, by suggesting pedestrian routes which could be improved and made safer, or by volunteering to help with pedestrian training for children