A 'pioneering' new road safety scheme is set to be installed after an eight-year campaign - thanks to people power.

St Mary's School in Beaminster was one of the first schools in the county to lose its lollipop crossing service in 2010 when Dorset County Council scrapped funding for the roles.

Campaigners stepped up action last year when a boy was hit by a car while walking to school and had to be taken to hospital.

Hundreds of people signed a petition last year, which was presented to Beaminster Town Council, and now, after a lengthy consultation with the school, residents and parents, Dorset County Council said designs are being finalised.

The scheme won't be the zebra crossing originally requested by campaigners because the area did not meet national criteria for one to be installed, a DCC spokesman said. This includes the number of vehicles and people using the road and surrounding area.

But efforts by the county council to involve the community - particularly schoolchildren - in coming up with a solution have been praised.

Parent Carolyn Emett (CORR) handed the 600-signature petition to town councillors in April last year.

She said the scheme would involve colourful signs encouraging motorists to slow down along the whole road.

"One of the problems with zebra crossings is that if people continuously use them, you can almost forget it's there. What we are getting is actually quite pioneering, it will be the first time it has been used in West Dorset.

"I think they [the county council] have listened. It is fun, it is interesting, and it's really positive for the kids because they have been a part of it, getting out and about and thinking about road safety."

Carolyn said the success of the campaign was down to hard work and persistence from parents, the school, town councillors, the county council, MP Oliver Letwin and DCC leader Rebecca Knox.

But reservations about the new scheme remain.

Rachel Hayball, who was instrumental in setting up the campaign, said: “We are still worried about it. The council said we would not be getting a crossing but it is still very much-needed. Things have gone quiet since the accident but we know the school is looking at road safety measures.

“We are still very concerned about the road and there are still near misses. It is a positive step that the school is looking into safety measures and we will wait to see what those are. The council is very underfunded and cutting back on things that should not be cut back. This is the safety of kids getting to school. They really need to be doing something.”