A HAMPSHIRE primary school can legitimately claim that its pupils are the brightest in the county - after issuing them all with high-visibility jackets.

In a bid to save lives, the head teacher at St John the Baptist Primary School in Waltham Chase has taken the unusual step because he is so worried about youngsters walking along the busy B2177.

It comes after a 12-year-old girl was knocked down and injured crossing the road in January, and a survey of concerned parents reported another 33 near-misses.

There have also been incidents of parents being hit by wing mirrors of passing lorries, and of cars failing to stop, even when the lollipop lady was in the road with youngsters.

The designated crossing point is just after the speed limit drops from 60mph to 30mph, and parents say the road is like a motorway at times.

They have joined forces with head teacher Steve Morrison in urging Hampshire County Council to install a pelican crossing.

"For the past six months the school has been working closely with parents and local councillors to improve road safety around the school, and look at alternative safe routes," said Mr Morrison.

"The B2177 is a very busy road, used heavily by HGVs, and some of the adjacent footpaths are not very wide or in very good condition in some parts."

Rather than wait and hope for action, Mr Morrison has this week given all 320 pupils a bright orange jacket to wear on the way to school - an initiative which has proved popular with parents.

"Since all the children have had their jackets it has slowed the drivers down, so we're hoping it's a cultural change," said campaigner Rachel Hicks.

"Walking to school is a stressful experience - every morning we're glad we've got to school without a fatality "It's such a busy road, we've got to have something to stop the traffic."

A council spokeswoman said that the authority is working with the community, and looking at putting a crossing on the road.

The most appropriate crossing point is being researched, but as an interim measure the existing designated crossing point could be moved further into the 30mph zone.