West Country road safety

A new safety campaign has launched in Bristol to remind drivers to look out for lollipop people. A report by School Crossing Patrols has found an increasing number of motorists are failing to stop at crossings. The city's Mayor George Ferguson is supporting the initiative.

Pupils from St John's C of E Academy in Coleford, Gloucestershire have been monitoring the speed of motorists near their school.

The pupils from Year 5 and 6 spent an hour at the roadside, supported by Police, the local Street Warden and representatives of Two Rivers Housing.

The youngsters asked several drivers to pull over and talked to them about their speed. They asked them to consider slowing down and handed out mock tickets as a reminder.

Julie Griffiths, Deputy Headteacher at St John’s Academy, said: “The children took their responsibility very seriously. They couldn't wait to tell me that one driver was travelling at 37mph and another at 45mph!

This is a message to all of us to slow down when driving. Thank you to everyone involved in the project.”

A woman whose 13-year-old daughter was killed by a speeding driver says she hopes her death can be a warning to others. Amy Hofmeister died while cycling in Taunton three years ago. Now her mother Jane's campaign has won charitable status and she wants her message to go nationwide.

Leonard Jones was racing his girlfriend home from the pub when the crash happened. He was jailed for seven years. His girlfriend Leanne Burnell, who encouraged him, was sentenced to three and a half years.