WORK will get under way in the New Year to make the journey to school safer for youngsters in Pendle.

The Safer Routes to School scheme has received a £90,000 boost from Lancashire County Council and £25,000 from Pendle Council and will benefit pupils from St Philip's, Lomeshaye, Bradley and Holy Saviour primary schools, in Nelson.

It aims to reduce the number of accidents involving children and enable parents and pupils to choose to walk or cycle to school.

Each school is looking in detail at different routes and has developed its own travel plans.

Road safety education, training and publicity schemes are also taking place as part of the scheme.

Road works and improvements such as special safer walking routes marked on footpaths, 20mph zones, build-outs and footway crossovers and cutting back overgrown plants as well as implementing one-way traffic schemes around schools are also due to begin in the New Year.

John Parsons, headteacher at St Philip's Primary School, said: "I was very pleased to hear we had the money for these schemes.

"It all started off with year six doing a traffic survey and then Pendle Council got involved in the Safer Routes to Schools.

"Our plans to be undertaken as part of the scheme are almost exactly what the year six pupils planned last year which is brilliant because they can now see it become reality in their community and they have learned from it.

"The practical things which will be done include a dedicated parking area so there is a specific place for parents to pick up their children, the immediate area around the school will become a 20mph zone, it will be a one-way system round the school, the signage will be improved because at the moment there isn't a sign to say there is a school there, there will be the designated routes to school and the children will take part in a drama workshop in January which will look at road safety issues."

Youngsters at the schools have also been invited to create artwork to go on the 20mph zone signs by the end of January.