Children are celebrating being able to enjoy a much safer journey to school after a road was finally made one-way.

Pupils at Temple Hill Primary School, in St Edmunds Road, Dartford, can walk without fear of being hit by cars mounting the pavement or reversing down the narrow road after the decision was finally made by Kent County Council.

School governor Darren Povey, who has been acting as a patrol officer outside the school ever since his teenage son Dean got knocked down by a drug driver on another road, is delighted some progress has finally been made to improve the road safety outside.

"I became a road safety campaigner when my son was hit by a car and I started volunteering to help children crossing because I felt compelled to do something," he said.

"I'm pleased we have got this done, but there is much more to do."

For years the road has been notorious for difficulties at school drop-off and pick-up times as it is not wide enough for two cars to pass one another, so cars end up in head-to-head stand-offs, eventually being forced to reverse or drive on the pavement to avoid each other.

Darren, 43, has been working with Labour councillor Kelly Grehan to find a way to solve the dangerous problem.

Cllr Grehan said: "I've always been clear that road safety is a priortiy for me as a councillor and that I am determined to stop the walk to school feeling dangerous for children because of the behaviour of motorists."

Cllr Grehan, who brought the consultation to Kent County Council last year, added: "When I visit kids at the school, they often tell me they think cars drive too fast and drive badly around the estate.

"I'm frustrated I have not been able to get more done but this is a good step.

"Thank you to everyone who has been supportive. However, it is frustrating that Kent County Council have been slow to fit the infrastructure on the road."

Two years ago Darren, who has a daughter at the school, worked alongside the school to step-up its road campaign after noticing a sharp increase in motorists mounting the kerb and children being forced to walk in the road.

Following a series of near misses outside the school gates, he feared a serious accident would have to happen before anything was done

In 2020, the school called for the council to introduce a drop-off zone and to install CCTV cameras to monitor the chaos.

Whilst in the past Cllr Grehan has suggested turning the road into a "School Street", meaning that during drop-off and pick-up times only cars on school business can drive down the road, although school wardens patrol to ensure emergency vehicles are granted access if needed.