Parents and teachers at Bentley St Paul’s CE Primary School are celebrating following completion of an important road safety scheme.

Essex Highways engineers have installed new laybys and pavements, as well as laying drains, from outside the school, which is in Ashwells Road, Pilgrim’s Hatch, to Brentwood Vineyard Church.

It means parents and pupils have far safer passage to and from the school.

Cllr Eddie Johnson, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Highways Maintenance and Small Scheme Delivery, said: “This work, priortised locally, is another great example of Essex County Council improving our county’s roads for everyone, including schoolchildren.”

The scheme was carried out in two phases.

Phase one saw the extension of an existing layby and footpath, while the second phase involved an entirely new layby and footpath on the other side of the road.

Work involved installing laybys with footways to the rear of them. An existing ditch had to be cleared and piped, creating a new drainage system.

Parent Lisa Barratt who has a son, Ethan, at the school said: “All the mums and dads are thrilled. We just want to thank everyone involved for their hard work getting the new pavements approved and built.”

Headteacher, Mrs Louise Putt added: “We are very pleased Essex Highways has extended the pavement and built laybys.

"It will make a massive difference at school drop off and pick up times, as well as helping to keep our families safe.”

The Bentley Primary School scheme was funded by the Brentwood Local Highways Panel.