SAFETY measures outside a city school to protect children from busy traffic are now slowly beginning to be put in to place.

Plans for a zebra crossing to be installed in St George's Lane North near to St George's CE Primary School are due to go out for public consultation during the next few weeks.

Last week, single yellow lines were painted on the road at the junction with Henry Street making it illegal for motorists to stop there at certain times.

Safety outside the school has always been a concern, particularly in the mornings, as there is an increased volume of traffic with people going to work and mums and dads dropping children off at the school.

There are also cars travelling along the road heading for Bishop Perowne High School, on Merrimans Hill.

But it took a nine-year-old boy to be hit by a car in October 2004 near the school to start a determined campaign by parents and the school to get safety measures in place.

Since then, the school's headteacher, Steve Mills, Worcestershire County Councillor Mark Drinkwater, Worcester city councillor Rob Peachey, as well as parents and residents, have been pushing hard for action to be taken.

Mr Mills said: "The yellow lines haven't made a difference yet and I don't think they will until the signs are placed in position.

"I'm hoping once that happens it should stop people parking there."

The accompanying signs will inform motorists that there is no parking allowed on the yellow lines on Mondays to Fridays between 8.30am and 5pm. They are due to go up some time during the week beginning Monday, January 23. Coun Drinkwater told the Worcester News that it is paramount to have the crossing on St George's Lane North, near to the junction with Henry Street.

She said: "We hope to have it done by the end of the financial year in March.

"Let's hope that the consultation goes through all right."