THE headteacher at a Tynedale school has raised concerns about pupil safety after bollards installed outside the school following several near misses were knocked down.

Six safety bollards were put up outside of Mickley First School earlier this year after incidents where cars had mounted the kerb outside the school after leaving the A695 road.

The issue came to the fore last year when a car left the road, collided with a planter and narrowly avoided crashing into the school’s peripheral wall.

But four of the bollards, which had been paid for out of Coun. Anne Dale Members’ Small Schemes allowance, were knocked down on Saturday.

Headteacher Andy Hudson believed the damage had taken place on Saturday morning and said he reported it to police.

He said: “What I am really, really concerned about is that we seem to have a regular occurrence of at least one accident a year outside our school.

“It seems to be the same bit of road, which was the reason we spoke to Anne to have the bollards put up.

“It’s a straight stretch of road but it seems really vulnerable to traffic going past. It makes you think what would have happened if the bollards hadn’t been there, and it proves the point that they are necessary to keep young people safe.”

Mr Hudson has called on Northumberland County Council to find a solution.

Coun. Dale said the bollards are to be reinstated as soon as possible, and added that a meeting will be held next week between the school and county council officers to discuss the options available for extra road safety measures.

Mr Hudson added: “I would hope that the county council can come forward with a solution that will allow our children to play safely in the playground and the school community to come safely to school.”