IT is an issue faced by hundreds of schools across the country.

But youngsters at Dell Primary in Oulton Broad this week launched their own novel campaign to improve road safety – by encouraging parents and visitors to follow a voluntary one-way system.

Drivers approaching the school in Dell Road are now met every morning and afternoon by pupils and staff holding up 'no entry' and 'one way' signs as they seek to make the area safer for those on foot.

And the campaign seemed to be working on Tuesday as more than 70 motorists heeded their pleas and only drove one way down Winston Avenue, Paddock Hill and Orchard Avenue.

The school says the new one-way system is necessary because it now has 400 children on its books as a result of the change to a two-tier education system, which saw an extra 120 pupils added to its roll.

It says the need for the system was highlighted by recent 'near miss' involving a car and a pupil.

This week, Jack Aldred, 10, was on patrol in Orchard Avenue with several of his fellow pupils. He said there 'were lots of drivers' who followed their signs and agreed the one way system was good for road safety.

As well as the pupils' patrols, the school has sent a letter to parents, asking them to use the system.

The letter says: 'We hope that you will help us to create this voluntary one-way system as this will make it much safer for all visitors to the school and local residents.'

The school sought permission to set up the one-way system from Suffolk County Council and throughout the week all pupils taking part wore high visibility jackets and were accompanied by a member of staff.

Deputy head teacher Beryl Banester said: 'I am very pleased with how it has gone so far. On Tuesday 75 cars followed the one way system. Traffic has become more and more of a problem around the school. We had a near miss only in the last month. We just want to make the roads around the school safer for the pupils and for everyone. I hope drivers follow it.'