A BEAT bobby is mounting a new attempt to try and overcome traffic congestion outside four primary schools.

PC Ken Judd has come up with the idea of handing out Big Macs instead of parking tickets as a way of highlighting the problem.

All previous efforts to ease the morning and afternoon snarl-ups outside North Durham schools have come to nothing. Persuading parents to park away from areas marked with zig-zig lines has just fallen on deaf ears.

Now PC Judd has hit on the idea of using the pupils to win over the grown-ups.

All 500 youngsters attending Ouston Infants, Ouston Juniors, St Benet's RC Primary and West Pelton Primary schools near Chester-le-Street have been invited to design a poster to highlight the dangers of rush-hour congestion at the start and close of each school day.

Individuals and teams of children from each of the schools who come up with winning designs will be treated to meals at McDonald's restaurants.

The poster voted the best from all four schools will earn its creators cash prizes for themselves and their school.

PC Judd said: "The schools sent letters to parents pointing out the dangers they were creating when they drove to the school to pick up and drop off their kids.

"All our overtures have come to nothing and parking continues to be a real hazard. The worry is that a child could be badly hurt.

"I felt dishing out tickets would be negative and provide only a short-term solution. That's when I hit on the idea of the poster competition and the hope is it will get the message home more effectively to erring mums and dads."

McDonald's restaurants have backed the scheme by providing vouchers for free meals, and local businesses have put up the money for the top prizes.

PC Judd said: "I really believe that by getting the children to highlight the dangers, their parents will heed what is simply a road safety message."