Hundreds of children will have a safer journey to school thanks to an eight-year-old girl.

Basildon Council, Essex Police and Essex County Council have been so impressed by Kirsty Yates's innovative ideas they have officially adopted them.

Kirsty made a cardboard model of Pitsea to pinpoint places where installation of a crossing patrol and zebra crossings would improve safety.

Her idea came from a project carried out at Eversley Primary School, in Crest Avenue, Pitsea, where pupils were encouraged to discuss with their parents ways to make the surrounding area safer.

Kirsty said: "I went home and decided to make a model of how things could be made safer for children going to school."

Her ideas will now be used by Basildon Council and other interested parties as part of the Government-backed Safer Journeys to School scheme.

The scheme aims to encourage parents and children to walk to school in a bid to reduce traffic congestion.

Richard Llewellyn, chairman of the council's environment committee, praised the innovative schoolgirl, saying: "Kirsty should be commended."

Winning way - Kirsty Yates with her innovative model showing her ideas on how to improve road safety in Pitsea

Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

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