PROBLEM parking outside another local school is being driven out - thanks to pupils.

Skelmorlie Primary is one of several local schools being blighted by irresponsible parents.

The youngsters being put at risk decided to fight back and two new brightly-coloured bollards designed by them have now been installed.

Teachers, parents and pupils had raised concerns about two sections of Innes Park Road which became popular places to park, despite being marked with yellow criss-cross lines.

To stop people parking in these areas, the school first used two signs from North Ayrshire Council as part of a trial, but only had them for a short time.

The school then received a kind donation from Skelmorlie Tenants' and Residents' Association and as the parking problems continued, decided to use the money to pay for two bollards of their own.

Creative youngsters who are part of the school's Health and Wellbeing committee helped with the design of the no parking signs and decided to name them as a tribute to two much-missed friends of the school - janitor Donald McAnespie and lollipop lady Alice Chiarella.

Head teacher Lynn Currie said: "We have history of people parking on the lines outside the school where it's unsafe.

"The temporary signs we used in the trial worked really well for us, so we thought a good way to spend the donation would be to buy bollards that could have permanently.

"The bollards are now placed outside in the problem areas first thing in the morning.

"We've only had them outside since the start of this year and they've done a good job so far.

"The young people really enjoyed being part of the design process."

Billie Walker, who was secretary of the TARA before it disbanded, said: "The parking has been an ongoing problem for years.

"If you move up to the top of the road it can be really difficult to see either way if there are cars parked there, and if cars are doing u-turns, you really can't see where you're going.

"This is a great way for the money to be used.

"We're really happy that the remaining funds from the association can be used in this way and Donald and Alice meant so much to the school, so it's a fitting tribute."

The Tele reported last week on dangerous parking at Newark Primary in Port Glasgow.

A community police officer had to be drafted in to help stamp out the problem amid fears that an accident was only a matter of time.