YOUNGSTERS have carried out a survey of traffic outside their school to help parents campaigning for a pedestrian crossing there.

Two accidents, including one involving a six-year-old girl, and several near misses have been reported in the past two years outside Grampian Primary School, in Sinfin.

There is no crossing in Grampian Way and pupils are forced to dodge between parked cars because there are no zig-zag markings outside the school.

As part of a safety campaign, parents and staff have formed human chains to escort pupils across the road.

Now, eight pupils from the school's top maths group have completed a traffic survey.

Deputy head Lystra Mann said: "We went out in the morning and took a 30-minute survey and again in the afternoon between 3pm and 3.30pm."

Mrs Lystra said pupils used the data they gathered to compare the morning and afternoon results and produced their own spread sheets to show the information.

They counted 520 vehicles – 465 of them cars – in just 30 minutes in the morning. This increased to 729 in the afternoon, with 655 of them cars.

Mrs Lystra said: "We will be sending the spread sheets to Derby City Council."

The council already has a 1,300-name petition from parents and residents appealing for a traffic crossing.

Barbara Hall, whose daughter was knocked down by a car in Grampian Way in February, as she left the school, has been leading the campaign.

The mother-of-seven said: "Everyone at the school is worried about the danger of crossing what is a very busy road.

"Our school does not have signs to warn traffic they are approaching a school or to slow down and it does not have a lollipop person either.

"We have been told to use a nearby underpass but some of the elderly residents in nearby sheltered housing can't manage the walk and we prefer not to go down it because it is deserted and dirty."

Cameron Higgins, 11, who took part in the survey said: "All other schools have a crossing of some kind, so what about us?"

Fellow pupil Ellen Kang, also 11, said: "The accidents to both children happened in the afternoon, when the traffic is at its heaviest.

"Double yellow lines are needed because the pupils trying to look into the road cannot see as parents park their cars in front of the school gates.

"And a crossing is needed to guarantee children's safety."

Demands for a crossing have been backed by Sinfin Neighbourhood Board and everyone is now waiting for a further response from the council.

Previously, the school was told by that a crossing was not necessary because of the underpass and that zig-zag marking would force parents to park in the nearby bus layby.