YOUNGSTERS have given their seal of approval to a new pedestrian crossing on a busy Hartlepool road.

The crossing has been built in Seaton Lane, outside Golden Flatts Primary School, as part of a package of measures to help make life easier and safer for people using the road.

The improvements also include narrowing the road width and adding new warning markings on the road, to encourage drivers to cut their speed.

The work has cost £75,000 and has been funded by the Owton Rossmere Single Regeneration Budget Partnership, Hartlepool Borough Council and the Health Action Zone.

The ideas for the improvements came out of detailed consultation last year with pupils, parents, school governors and residents as part of the council's Safe Routes to Schools initiative.

Many people in the area had been very keen to see the creation of a crossing on the busy road in front of the school.

The partnership responded to those concerns by bringing the project schedule forward to enable the work to be done this year rather than in 2002-2003.

Part of the improvements in Seaton Lane have also included relocating two bus stops and replacing them with raised stops to help people with pushchairs and those with mobility problems.

Paul Watson, the council's road safety officer, said: "There was clearly a very strong need among local people for a crossing over what is a very busy road.

"I'm pleased to see that the crossing is already well-used, and drivers are already heeding the warnings to cut their speed."