Parents and teachers met an urban design team to exchange ideas on how to make the area outside their school safer.

Transport charity Sustrans headed to Roding Primary in Dagenham on Friday and set up a model of the street outside, Cannington Road.

Working with parents and staff they then came up with ways to improve the area, which many believe could be a lot safer. Among concerns that have been raised are

n parents parking dangerously

n too many cars, and

n the existing metal fencing channelling the children into one area.

Suggestions for improvements included changing the fencing and improving cycling paths so fewer families drive to school.

The plans will need to be considered by the council before they are implemented.

The meeting was part of a wider project called DIY Porters Lodge, which was launched seven months ago.

Funded by the council, it aims to improve streets and public spaces in an area of Mayesbrook ward by talking to the people who live there.

So far Sustrans has hosted pop-up events, meetings with local groups and door-to-door surveys of 200 houses to find out what residents would like to change.

More than 250 residents have come back with suggestions, including changing bus routes, bin location, clearing dog mess, creating public places to sit down and improving green areas.

Phillippa Banister, DIY Porters Lodge co-ordinator, said: “This is the start of something really exciting in Becontree, but it’s still not too late to get involved.

“Over the next few months we’ll be hosting workshops for residents to work with experts to redesign their streets, and we’re inviting everyone to come along.”

The next event is the Becontree Bake Off in Wykeham Green, Dagenham, on Saturday afternoon, where there will be a chance to eat cake and discuss ways to improve the area.