THE head teacher of a small rural school near Ludlow has welcomed new measures to make the journey to and from school safer for young children.

Drivers approaching Bitterley School are warned they must take care and slow down by a series of signs and flashing lights outside the entrance when children are arriving in the morning and leaving in the afternoon.

Head Jane Bishop said: "It is a big improvement and parents and teachers are all pleased to see these measures introduced by Shropshire County Council.

"I have always been worried about cars approaching the school because drivers do not expect schools along rural lanes particularly schools on blind corners like ours."

Corvedale councillor Claude Bodenham said he was "delighted" that campaigning for safer approaches to rural schools was beginning to show success and he hoped more would be on the Safer School Zones list in future.

Onny School in Onibury is the next to be included in the scheme in south Shropshire. New signs are expected to be introduced by next spring.