A £30,000 windfall from the Department for Transport will boost Wirral's successful road safety training for schools.

The funding has been awarded to the borough following a successful bid from Wirral's road safety officers.

The money will be used to widen the successful Kerbcraft traffic education scheme, which aims to get parents involved in teaching five-year-olds road safety through practical training at the kerbside.The training involves parents taking pairs of children out on to local roads to show them the dangers.

David Rees, Wirral Council's senior road safety expert, said: "Since we piloted Kerbcraft in spring last year the response from schools, parents and the children has been overwhelming. It is now pleasing to see this success story recognised - with us being awarded this additional funding."

Six Birkenhead schools have already been involved in the national pilot following the appointment of Wirral's first ever Child Pedestrian Training Co-ordinator in March of last year. More than 170 children have been through the training and after four weeks the children show themselves more aware of road dangers.

The new funding will mean the appointment of a second Co-ordinator to recruit more parent volunteers and train another 300 youngsters across Wirral.