A WEEK-long road safety operation in Bolton - focusing on inconsiderate parking - has been hailed as a success by police.

Police chiefs say they have been supporting a national vulnerable road users campaign.

This has involved officers, with road safety experts from Bolton Council, assisting schools with the increase in traffic during drop-off and pick-up times.

Often schools find the two spells can result in congestion and potentially dangerous situations around the school gates.

The operation has seen officers from Greater Manchester Police’s specialist operations road policing team and neighbourhood officers attending selected schools in Bolton and Rochdale each morning and afternoon at these busy times to monitor driving standards and advise on road safety to children and parents.

Bolton Council highways and civil enforcement officers have been lending a hand with the initiative.

Police say the aim was to “have a positive impact on road safety around the school environment, which could be anything from engaging with school children walking to school and supporting the school crossing patrol, to enforcing speed limits, seat belts and dangerous parking”.

Peter Bird , the force’s neighbourhoods road policing manager, said: “We are completing this week of action, along with the councils and others, to support the schools in ensuring the pupils can enter and exit the school safely.

“We all feel the rush of school times and can sometimes lose sight of the dangers around us. We hope that from this week of action, pupils and parents will be more mindful of their surroundings and be more aware of road safety.”

Cllr Stuart Haslam, the borough's highways cabinet member, said: “It’s important that at the start of a new school year we remind parents and pupils of the dangers during the busy pick up and drop off times.

"Our priority is the safety of children and motorists need to be extra vigilant whilst driving near schools.

"We are also using this week of action to remind parents of dangerous parking and not to park on the yellow zig-zag road markings outside schools.”