PHASE one of a plan to improve children's safety along car-choked roads near a Chandler's Ford school has been unveiled.

Every pupil at Hiltingbury Infant and Junior School has taken home a copy of a new travel plan that asks parents to consider whether they really need to drive in.

Currently 44 per cent of children travel to school by bike or on foot but it is hoped this figure will top 60 per cent by 2007 and will have the added benefit of being good exercise.

Now the school wants Hampshire County Council to match its resolve on improving safety by building two pedestrian crossings in Hursley Road.

"It's no good for us to ask people to let their children walk or cycle to school if the road is not safe," said junior school headteacher Sophie Blakeway.

That could pave the way for a renewal of the Walking Bus scheme - where children are given fluorescent strips and walked in a long, orderly line to school by volunteer parents - that had to stop when the lollipop person operating a crossing retired two years ago.

Mrs Blakeway added: "I would like to see more people doing things like car sharing but I do understand this is difficult for some parents.

"Many parents feel that they have to drive their children in to school because the road is not safe for them to cross.

"We have not had an accident but this is always a concern with the high volume of traffic and high volume of children.

"We don't want to preach to people and we respect people's rights to decide how to bring their children into school."

The school is anxiously waiting to hear if the county council will approve the two pedestrian crossings.

So far six borough schools have completed travel plans.