Jemma Jacobs, Dale Mert, and Sophie Elliott. Behind are CC O'Toole, Carole Rutter from Road Safety and headteacher Angela Aspinwall-Livesey of St John's Catholic Primary School.

West Lancs children design safety signs

School children from across West Lancashire are drawing on their artistic talents to slow down drivers.

The children have been busy designing posters for a newly created 20 mph zone in Skelmersdale. West Lancashire District Council held a competition for school children in the area to design a 'Slow down' message for the signs to remind drivers they are entering the zone. The 20 mph zone was chosen because of the large number of children in the surrounding area.

Pupils from St John's R.C. Primary School, Clough Fold Primary School and Fairlie Community Primary School were invited to enter the competition. One design from each school was chosen to appear in the campaign.

Sophie Elliot, 10, Dale Murt, 10 and Gemma Bell Jacobs, nine, were the three lucky winners whose designs will now be transformed into colourful road signs. Their winning entries feature the messages 'Kill your speed, not a child', 'Please be steady' and 'Please slow down.'

"We are very happy to be involved with the project and the children were keen to learn about road safety," said Mrs Aspinwall-Livesey, head teacher at St John's Primary School. "By raising awareness of road safety messages, such as reducing your speed, the whole school community can be educated to be better road users."

For further information about this article please contact: Martin Crabtree: martin.crabtree@css.lancscc.gov.uk.