WORK begins this week on a package of measures to slow down traffic on a dangerous school route in Darlington.

The work, costing £50,000, will be carried out near Corporation Road Community Primary School, where speeding motorists have long posed a threat to pupils.

Measures include a raised speed table for the junction of Corporation Road and Bartlett Street and a speed table outside the school.

There will also be a series of speed cushions along the length of Corporation Road and Salisbury Terrace.

Solar-powered flashing lights will be installed for the first time at one of the town's schools, on each side of the crossing patrol point, to warn approaching traffic.

Welcoming the work, ward councillor Eleanor Lister said speeding was a big problem in the ward because of the straight road layout.

She said: "There has always been speeding past the school because it's a rat run.

"The roads in our ward are very straight and do attract speeding vehicles.

"The majority of the houses don't have gardens so children play on the streets, which they should be able to do. It's always been a worry because of the traffic."

She said residents had been calling for traffic calming in the ward since 1987, adding: "We are really pleased that this is happening. We are hoping it will be extended to other parts of the ward as well."

Work on the project, which is part of Darlington Borough Council's Safer Routes to Schools scheme, will be completed during the summer holidays.

Councillor Nick Wallis, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "Corporation Road and Salisbury Terrace are high priority areas for a traffic calming scheme.

"As well as the school, there are residential areas and many shops so I am particularly pleased that we are now able to deliver this scheme in a busy urban area."

So far, the authority has spent more than £350,000 on Safer Routes to Schools.

Measures have been introduced at Cleveland Terrace outside Abbey Infants School, Carmel Road, Hummersknott Avenue, Barton Street, Salters Lane South, Thompson Street East and Kingsway outside St Bede's Primary School.

* A scheme to calm traffic on a Darlington estate plagued by speeding motorists has received the backing of community leaders.

A meeting of the Firthmoor Community Partnership Board approved the measures on Friday.

Members agreed that the board should pay £22,500 towards the work with Darlington Borough Council providing a similar amount.

The scheme will take in a number of problem areas, including Lanethorpe Road, Burnside Road and Westminster Road.

Work is due to start at the end of this year.