AS much as £100,000 is to be invested in making the roads outside two York schools safer for pedestrians.

The city council has approved a package of road safety measures for Main Street, Bishopthorpe. They include speed ramps, better signs and road markings, new coloured road surfaces, plus a 20mph speed limit.

The project will get under way once children at Bishopthorpe Infants School and Bishopthorpe Church of England Junior School have broken up for the Easter holiday on Friday next week.

The authority is hoping to keep the road open, although delays are anticipated once work begins.

"This scheme should make a big contribution to road safety in Bishopthorpe, especially for pedestrians," said council spokesman Ray Chaplin.

"The measures around the schools are part of a national strategy to improve safety for children and to encourage more walking and cycling.

"The speed tables and build-outs along Main Street should make it easier and safer for people to cross the road to get to the shops and other local amenities."