MOCK speeding tickets were dished out to eight motorists caught breaking the limit by children outside a Coleford school.

Fed-up with the speeding traffic, junior wardens at St John's Church of England Academy spent an hour monitoring passing motorists with a speed camera, alongside the police, local street warden and representatives of Two Rivers Housing.

Those they felt were driving too fast were asked to pull over and the youngsters had a chance to tell the driver how their speeding made them feel. They asked them to consider slowing down and handed out mock tickets as a reminder.

The initiative by the Year 5 and 6 children, who joined the junior warden scheme, is led by Two Rivers Housing and designed to improve the local community.

They launched the project at the beginning of the year by asking the children to identify their main concerns. Monthly activities since then have included street inspections and a litter-pick in areas close to the school. The speed survey will be repeated in June by a different class of students.

PC Rob Dix, PCSO Mike Shuttleworth and street warden, John Cooke joined Jane Cordier, Justine Skitt and Andrew Larkin of Two Rivers Housing, to support the children.

"The junior wardens pulled eight motorists over and asked them to consider slowing down," said Jane Cordier, Two Rivers' community projects co-ordinator. "The drivers understood their concerns and were very respectful of their request.

"It was a great afternoon. The children enjoyed themselves, the drivers responded well and it was another good example of how young people can get involved with improving their community. I'm sure we've also found that we have a few budding police officers of the future!"

Deputy headteacher, Julie Griffiths added: "The children took their responsibility very seriously. They couldn't wait to tell me that one driver was travelling at 37mph and another at 45mph. This is a message to all of us to slow down when driving. Thank you to everyone involved in the project."

The programme is planned to extend in other areas later this year.