COLIN the Crocodile Copper launched a snappy way to get children to school safely this week.


Pupils from Park Junior and Park Infant schools in Stonehouse greeted Colin with excitement when he arrived in a police car to promote the Thank You For Keeping Us Safe campaign on Thursday.


As part of a joint effort to reduce road injuries around the school, Stroud District Council is allowing parents to park in the high street car park free of charge for one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon.


Parents must display permits, which are available at the school, and children, who have been given special fluorescent jackets, can follow giant crocodile footprints to get them safely from the car park to the school gates.


Concerns about road safety were raised at the end of last year after a parent was knocked down by a car outside the school gates.


This prompted Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership - made up of Stroud District Council, Stonehouse Town Council, Gloucestershire County Council, and the police Ð to launch a three stage process to improve safety.


PCSO Tracy Wren, who helped organise the scheme, said "The work we have all done may save a child's life."


Park Infants headteacher Rachel Edwards said: "We felt the previous situation where parents were doing three point turns in the entrance to the school was just an accident waiting to happen."


Richard Gasser, headteacher of Park Junior, said: "The children were so excited when Colin showed up, I just hope this excitement rubs off on the parents."


Colin will still make regular visits to ensure road safety remains fresh in everyone's minds.