PUPILS are waging a campaign against irresponsible parking near their school by issuing their own warning letters.

Following problems in recent months such as motorists blocking pavements and school entrances, youngsters from St Stephen's Primary School in Little Harwood, Blackburn, have been working with road safety experts to drive home the message that parking recklessly could endanger children's lives.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's Connect project has worked alongside the pupils and the school council and it was felt that the warning would have more impact if it came from the pupils.

The children, together with the council, designed and wrote letters including a serious message to leave on car windscreens and give out to parents asking drivers to take more care.

Ten-year-old Sasha Dar is one of the school councillors involved in the campaign.

She said: “We thought this was a good idea because we want people to park more safely around school.

"We also want to ask parents to park away from school and spend five minutes walking into school with their child.”

Children have also been taking part in a Healthy Travel to School initiative led by the council's Connect project, which included Healthy Travel to School week when walking, cycling and 'park and stride' were encouraged and rewarded.

Headteacher Jacqui Young said: “We want parents to think about what they are doing. We are hoping it will raise awareness by the children emphasising that this is for their safety.

“We understand that some parents need to drive to school, but we are asking parents to park sensibly.”

Cheryl Sandford from the council’s Connect project said: “The children worked hard on the ticket initiative and also agreed that a walking bus would be a great idea.

"We are continuing this campaign over the next few months to really try and change the way parents think about coming to school.”

Further measures the council are introducing outside problem schools include new signs, extending keep clear lines and new double yellow lines.

The council has set up a road safety Facebook page for residents to talk about their issues and report problems.

This can be found at www.facebook.com/road-safety-blackburn-with-darwen.