CHILDREN are safer outside eight more County Durham schools following moves to reduce the speed of passing motorists.

Twenty mile per hour part-time speed limits have been introduced outside two schools at Stanley - East Stanley Primary and North Durham Academy, as part of Durham County Council’s Slow to 20 for Safer Streets project.

Twenty mile per hour part-time speed limits have also been rolled out at six schools in in Seaham.

They are Seaview Primary, Seaham School of Technology, New Seaham Academy, Westlea Primary, St Cuthbert’s RCVA Primary, and Seaham Trinity Primary.

The project will see 20mph part-time speed limits brought in outside an initial 33 schools across the county during drop- off and pick-up times.

Cllr Brian Stephens, the council’s portfolio holder for neighbourhoods and local partnerships, said: “We are delighted to continue to add more schools to this important road safety initiative.

“With the invaluable support of the local schools and the wider community, we are getting the important message out that drivers need to slow to 20 for safer streets”.

The Slow to 20 for Safer Streets project will provide road safety education for children to encourage walking and cycling.

It will also provide speed awareness initiatives for drivers and the wider community.

The part-time speed limits are used on roads where the mean average speed is more than 24mph and are not suitable for mandatory 20mph speed limits or zones.

For more information, visit durham.gov.uk/slowto20