FOUR schools have united in a partnership to make the roads safer for children.

Head teachers have teamed up to tackle the issue after St Mary’s Catholic High School pupil Hannah Whitley was hit by a car on a zebra crossing on Manchester Road in Astley last June.

Hannah, who was aged 15 at the time, was taken to hospital and suffered a head injury.

St Mary’s head teacher Andrew Dawson said: “Hannah was on the zebra crossing when a car went straight into her.

"She was not on her mobile phone and was doing everything she should have been doing to cross the road.

“The four schools in the area have come together because of concerns about the state of the roads.”

As well as St Mary’s, St Ambrose Catholic Primary School and St Stephen’s CE Primary School in Astley, and Holy Family Catholic Primary School in Boothstown are part of the partnership which has been named The Anti-Crash Crew.

Children from the schools went out together last week to make notes of problem areas which will be reported back to Wigan Council’s highways team.

They also recorded the amount of cars driving past Manchester Road and Chaddock Lane and used speed cameras which will be reported to the local authority.

The schools have held several meetings with the council and Astley and Mosley Common councillor Paula Wakefield has also been involved.

Holy Family Catholic Primary School head teacher Clare Roberts said: “We have had various incidents throughout the years and it seems to be getting worse.

“The traffic frightens the children.

“Some parents won’t let their children walk to school, ride on their bikes or get buses so they are driving them there which is leading to more cars on the road.

“Together we can really make a difference by looking at issues such as if we need more school signs or to improve speed cameras.

“Hannah has also been brave in talking to us about it as well to make sure no-one else gets hurt.”