PUPILS at a Swansea school have been getting creative to help drive home a road safety message.

When youngsters at Waunarlwydd Primary School were faced with the problem of people parking cars on the zig-zag lines outside the school gates they knew what to do — reach for the pens and paint brushes.

More than 70 pupils designed posters highlighting the problem — and the winner has now been turned into a sign which will have pride of place outside the school gates.

The colourful competition was the brainchild of community support officer Matthew Langley. He said: "We have a problem with parents parking on the zig-zags outside the school, and I thought it would be a good idea to get the youngsters involved in helping resolve it — after all, they are the ones affected.

"We had an excellent response, with more than 70 pupils designing posters.

"Our neighbourhood policing team picked the winner, and it was made into a sign which will go outside the school."

Eleven-year-old Hannah Fowler was the young artist with the winning idea, and her sign will now remind parents every day about the dangers of parking outside the school gates.

As well as seeing her work on display, Hannah joined five competition runners-up on a behind-the-scenes trip to Cockett police station yesterday.

The youngsters were driven to the station in a police van, shown around the building, had the chance to meet officers, and even had a finger-printing session.

Waunarlwydd primary head teacher Ruth Davies said she hoped pupil-power would help to tackle the problem parking. "The pupils really enjoyed taking part in the competition," she said.

"We have an ongoing problem with parents parking at the bottom of the drive, and I hope this will have a positive effect on that.

"I hope we can raise awareness of the problem, and I am sure the fact that the pupils themselves designed the posters will bring the issue home to drivers, and make them think about the children's safety."

jason.evans@swwmedia.co.uk