AN MP stood in the middle of the road and stopped the traffic as part of a protest about the dangers faced by Furness pupils crossing busy roads back in 1991.

The Mail, on September 17, noted: "Barrow and Furness MP Cecil Franks has joined Thorncliffe School in its campaign for a pedestrian crossing to link both sides of the school.

"The school's 800 pupils have to cross the busy Thorncliffe Road several times a day to get to lessons.

"Headmaster Dominic Tye wrote to Cumbria County Council explaining the dangerous situation at the school but has had no reply."

He said: "We had a child knocked down last term and a near collision last week.

"It is only a matter of time before a fatality occurs."

His best option was a flyover bridge but a very basic solution would be a 20mph speed limit and more pavement barriers."

The MP said: "The road is getting busier and the school is getting bigger.

"We are all worried it will take a serious accident before they will do anything."

The county council said the amount of traffic on the road did not merit a pedestrian crossing.

The Mail, on December 24 in 1991, described the latest edition of Thorncliffe School's community newspaper which used its front page to report on traffic difficulties outside the school.

It had the front page headline "Danger! Children crossing" and 6,000 copies came off the presses of the Mail to be delivered to homes in the school's catchment area.

An article in The Mail, noted: "It is the school's second edition of the paper which aims to let the local community know what's going on at the school and allow the public to voice issues which affect them both."

In January 1992 Barrow Borough Councillors rejected the idea of a covered walkway across the road but did call for urgent measures to avoid accidents at what had been a problem crossing place for 18 years.

Cllr Don Blackhurst told the planning committee: "Some drivers seem to think it's part of the Cresta Run."

By September there had been £28,000 proposals to narrow the road but there were fears this would leaf to tailbacks of traffic.

By November the cost had risen to £48,000 - which would include £10,000 on improved street lighting.