YOUNGSTERS in Durham can travel to school in safety following the launch of a road initiative.

Newton Hall Infants and Blue Coat Junior School launched their Safer Routes to School scheme on Monday.

Aimed at cutting vehicles' speeds on approach routes to the schools and increasing drivers' awareness of their presence, the initiative involved staff, parents and governors from both, as well as the Local Education Authority.

To mark its launch, every child was sent home with a copy of the schools' travel plan and an accompanying letter explaining how it will work.

Susan Edgar, headteacher at Newton Hall Infants, at Langley Moor, said: "We have a school safety patrol zone covering the approaches to school and increased visibility of the school crossing patrols.

"We have highlighted their position with the use of marker posts and advanced road markings, and we have a series of dropped crossing points, an extension to existing keep clear markings, give way markings and centre line markings.

"I think we have achieved a great deal.