The completion of a new Puffin crossing in Attleborough was celebrated by local schoolchildren and the county council. The need for a better crossing outside the town's infant and high schools, in Norwich Road, was highlighted by a 1,300 signature petition organised by resident Alan Maclaren and backed by town councillors.

The completion of a new Puffin crossing in Attleborough was celebrated by local schoolchildren and the county council.

The need for a better crossing outside the town's infant and high schools, in Norwich Road, was highlighted by a 1,300 signature petition organised by resident Alan Maclaren and backed by town councillors.

A detailed assessment, by the county council, confirmed that the location, numbers of school children and levels of traffic made it a high priority crossing.

Wyndham Northam, the authority's new chairman, said: “The county council has given market towns a special place in its local transport plan, and is listening to the people who live and work in them. This new crossing is a result of two things - campaigning by local people led by Alan McLaren and the town council, and a high score when county council engineers carried out a detailed assessment.”

Mr Northam said they were pleased to have found the money for the project which cost more than £150,000 and included widening and resurfacing the existing footways on either side of the crossing, and drainage works. And he outlined other improvements the council is planning to undertake across the county up to the end of March next year.

The list comprises 13 road crossings, 20 walking schemes, 14 cycling schemes, and a further 20 schemes of various sorts under the Safer and Healthier Journeys to School initiative

“That adds up to an investment of nearly £3.5 million on schemes that will help people, including many young people, stay safe while walking and cycling,” he added.