DORCHESTER schoolchildren helped unveil a new crossing that will improve safety for all pedestrians.

The new puffin crossing on Bridport Road, adjacent to the junction with Whitfield Road, was officially opened by youngsters from Damers First School.

The signal controlled pedestrian crossing will offer a safe place to traverse the busy Bridport Road as it heads west out of Dorchester towards Poundbury.

Dorset County Council's highways team hopes the facility will benefit the whole community but will also provide a safe and secure crossing point for pupils heading to the new Damers School, which is due to open in Poundbury next year.

At the opening ceremony for the crossing the children were joined by officers from Dorset County Council who has been involved in the design and construction of the scheme and local county councillor Trevor Jones.

Cllr Jones said: "This crossing has long been envisaged as part of the programme delivering a new school at Poundbury to replace the obsolete old one on Damers Road.

"The amount of traffic on Bridport Road has obviously increased down the years so we needed to do something to make it safe, not just for youngsters but for everybody who needs to cross this busy road running west out of town.

"What we have now delivered is a state-of-the-art puffin crossing for the benefit of everybody."

The new crossing has been funded by the Duchy Of Cornwall and delivered by Dorset Highways.

Project manager for Dorset Highways Andrew Brown said: "It provides a much needed safe crossing facility for school children and the whole community to cross this busy route in and out of Dorchester."