New road safety banners designed by a pupil of Withycombe Raleigh Primary School have been put up outside its gates.

Last year the school held a competition inviting the children to create artwork for banners urging drivers not to park on the double yellow and zig-zag lines. Elsie Osborne of Beech Class in Year 3 won with a picture of her mother driving Elsie and her two sisters to school.

Elsie said her message is: “Not to park on the yellow lines near to school because it makes it not safe for people to cross the road. Even just to stop the car on the yellow zig zag lines makes it more dangerous because they block the view for us, so we can’t see if it’s safe or not.”

Headteacher Mrs Jones said: “The banners with Elsie’s artwork look fabulous and we’ll display them all through the school year.

“We launched the competition because drop-off and pick-up times can be very busy and all too often we see drivers stopping on the yellow zig-zag lines by the school gates, or parking on double yellow lines. We even see cars parking on the pavements adjacent to double yellow lines, and we get very concerned about the children’s safety.

“The Highway Code clearly states that these areas should remain clear at all times and we hope Elsie’s artwork will act as a constant reminder.”

Elsie received prizes including a copy of her poster in a special display frame and some friendship bracelets to share and swap with her sisters and friends.