A Bradford mum who raised a petition calling for road safety measures near her children’s school has welcomed work being done to install a new pedestrian crossing.

But Emma Heal said she still wanted to see more crossings and pavement widening near St Luke’s C of E School, in addition to the new crossing being built in Harrogate Road, Eccleshill .

Mrs Heal, whose eight-year-old daughter and five-year-old son go to the school, said it had previously been “hell” crossing the road there.

She said: “I am thrilled at the outcome but my petition was for crossings on all the roads both sides of Harrogate Road and pavement widening in Fagley Lane. It is still extremely dangerous to take children to school.

“This is really phase one and we hope to improve it all for all the children who are walking to school. We are definitely happy we’ve got the crossing but it is not the end, because it is still not the safest road for the children that go to school.”

Councillor Ruth Bilheimer (Lab, Eccleshill), who supported the campaign along with other councillors, said people in the area were “very pleased”.

She said: “The main thing is with the children coming to school, and people walk through the churchyard to Harrogate Road and then take their lives in their hands crossing the road.

“The crossing will make it possible for them to do that safely. People who use the road are very, very pleased and happy and relieved.”

Simon D’Vali, Bradford Council principal engineer for Shipley and Bradford East, said: “The crossing is being installed in response to a request from the school and parents to create a safe place for pupils to cross the busy road.

“Ward members and the area committee saw this as a priority and allocated funds immediately.

“It will create a signal-controlled junction with additional pedestrian crossing lights and we expect it to be operational before the school re-opens in September.”