MEASURES to protect children at an east Tynedale first school from cars coming off the road outside their school have been introduced.

Northumberland County Council is to install five new planters outside Mickley First School, and a further three in the area of the nearby pedestrian crossing.

It comes after an incident in June when safety bollards outside of the school were knocked down when a vehicle mounted the curb.

This followed previous incidents where cars had come off the A695, and headteacher Andy Hudson and county councillor Anne Dale have both raised concerns about road safety.

It is thought that the planters on the pavement will act as a safety barrier, and prevent cars from mounting the pavement and crashing into the school wall.

At the last meeting of Prudhoe Town Council, councillors agreed that once the planters were installed by Northumberland County Council, the town council would fund the maintenance costs.

This will include planting them up and maintaining the flowers in future.