SPEEDING drivers have been given a lesson in road safety by the harshest of critics – schoolchildren.

Youngsters joined forces with police officers on Friday in a bid to stop motorists breaking the speed limit outside their schools.

Those caught driving faster than the 30mph restriction were given the choice of receiving a £60 fine and three points on their licence, or facing a probing from pupils instead.

Officers spent the morning at Barham Primary School in Valley Road, where three speeding drivers agreed to the latter penalty.

They included 18-year-old Emily Slater, who was quizzed by the nine and ten-year-olds after she was caught zooming past at 38mph.

She said: "Talking to the children was more effective than getting a fine and three points. The toughest question I was asked was how I would feel if I killed a child through speeding. I didn't know how to answer that."

Deputy head teacher Jo Duhig hailed the initiative as an effective way of increasing road safety outside the school gates.

She said: "We do see people driving far too fast past the school. We have four-year-olds crossing the road and toddlers coming from the pre-school. Obviously we want our children safe.

"This has been brilliant.

"The children have learnt an awful lot about road safety and it's a great community project."

Later that day at Chartham Primary, Shalmsford Street, six speeding drivers opted to speak to the Year 6 children, but a seventh was handed a fixed penalty ticket.

PC Mandy Poulter from the Canterbury Neighbourhood Team explained: "We believe that hearing directly from children about the dangers of speeding makes a much more lasting impression than a fine and three points on someone's licence."

The same operation was carried out at the schools in September, when a total of 20 speeding drivers faced questions from the pupils.