Billy and Belinda bollards are coming to Derby

Three Billy and three Belinda bollards will be installed in Corden Street to help with road safety in the vicinity of Arboretum Primary School.

The bollards two with white faces, two with Asian and two with African features will be wearing the colours of the school's uniform.

In other areas of the country, they have helped to limit accidents by their presence because motorists reduce speed and don't park near them.

Derby City Council, which has funded the 1,800 for the bollards, is hoping they make motorists become aware of child safety issues near to schools and act accordingly.

Stan Werbinski, city council road safety and travelwise manager, said: "I'm delighted we are trialling these. They have been installed in many local authorities with excellent feedback.

"They make motorists more aware of the presence of children around schools, discourage inconsiderate parking at the school entrances and support our ongoing work to reduce road casualties and car journeys to school.

"Research has shown that if you can reduce a driver's speed in one built-up area, then they are likely to keep to that limit in other built-up areas as well.

"I think they are a highly visible way of warning drivers that they are approaching a school."

Head teacher Ann Cruickshank is excited about the prospect of being the first school in the city to install the bollards.

She said: "It is a very busy area around the school with many cars being parked in the street outside while people go shopping or to the mosque. We also have coaches taking children to activities in the area.

"So we are hoping the bollards will deter people from parking too near the entrance and are more effective than the zig-zag lines that are down already.

"Without the parked vehicles, drivers will have a much clearer view of children as they come out of school and help to keep them safe.

"We are very lucky to have been selected to have the bollards and I am sure the pupils will love them when they see them."

Mrs Cruickshank is planning to write to her parents before half-term, which begins on February 12, and the bollards will be installed during the holiday ready for when pupils return on February 22.

A spokesman for Nottinghamshire County Council, which has installed the figures in several areas, said: "Schools have noticed a difference in driver behaviour near to them and they are now part of our overall road safety programme for schools."