THEY are the children at the gates whose job is to make drivers think twice.

Standing by the edge of the pavement, the safety bollards designed to make motorists stop and think about their speed.

They have received criticism in other parts of the country for having a creepy look, with the statuettes likened to “Chucky’s sober cousin” and to Dr Who ghouls.

But the road safety features received an overwhelmingly positive response on the streets of Swindon.

Two of the fake schoolchildren, one white and one black, stand outside Moredon Primary and Nursery School and a similar pair outside Holy Family Catholic Primary School in Park North.

As well as being a deterrent to drivers who might exceed the speed limit, they are also designed to halt parents and guardians tempted to pull onto grass verges.

Cllr Peter Watts (Lab, Rodbourne Cheney) said: “They do make drivers think about their speed and stop them pulling up onto the grass verges outside schools.

“The only danger is that people take them for granted after they’ve been there a while and see it as just another road sign or feature. While their effectiveness is unknown, drawing attention to the fact there is a school there and children about can only be a good thing.

“The introduction of school zones in Moredon and across the country is also a good thing as it sets out zig-zag lines and markings along with flashing lights at dropping off and picking up time advising drivers they should not be going faster than 20mph.”

Cllr Watts has not heard any reports of traffic problems outside the Moredon school.

He said: “There did seem to be problems at the zebra crossing but that seems to have stopped since Akers Way reopened around a couple of months ago and to my knowledge there have not been any problems on the Moredon Road since.”

Neither school responded to requests for comment.

However parking has been a recurrent issue at both sites.

Holy Family School has asked parents not to stop outside the gates and to be respectful of local residents by not parking on paths and kerbs and blocking drives. It also has an ‘active travel’ scheme encouraging families to walk, scoot and cycle to Marlowe Avenue.

At Moredon the principal drew attention to the issue in a January newsletter.

Claire Leach wrote: “I feel as though I write about the school car park in every newsletter.

“To remind you the car park is for staff only unless you have the express permission from myself or the school office to use it. This includes dropping off at breakfast club.

“Again, to reiterate this is for your children’s safety.”

The original £500 statuettes, named Bill and Belinda, have attracted criticism since they were first place outside schools around a decade ago.

Residents in Plymouth said they looked like something out of Dr Who while a newspaper report last year likened them to “Chucky’s sober cousin”.

But the AA has largely welcomed the idea with notes of caution about the figures being taken for granted and possibly vandalised late at night.

Tina Stone, 49, from Old Town said: “As a parent I think it’s an ideal way to let drivers know that there are children about. It’s a bit like the cardboard cut-out of the policeman in Poundland.”

Sara Kirkby, 51, from Marlborough said: “If you have a lot of children leaving school it does make drivers think and it stops accidents. Drivers speed along and anything that protects a little child who might run out is a good thing.”

Vito Azevedo, 48, from Old Town, a father of a 10-year-old daughter, said: “I have never seen the bollards but the driving I see outside schools is stupid, they don’t think about the kids. There isn’t even space to turn around. I stop my car before the school and walk my 10-year-old daughter to the gates.”

Tracey Curnock, 45, Royal Wootton Bassett said: “The bollards make people more aware there’s a school as opposed to normal bollards or some other kind of feature. They do make you think twice.”

Pat Reeder, 66, from Eldene, said: “They do make you aware there’s a school there and they look quite nice as well. If I was driving past in a car I would notice them. I don’t see why they shouldn’t be put outside more schools.”

Matt Nicholson, 24, Old Town said: “They are a bit weird, a bit strange looking. They do remind people to slow down because there’s a school there but they are a bit creepy. I think it’s back to the drawing board with the design.”

Laura Thomas, 36, from Oakhurst said: “They are a good idea. They catch the drivers’ eyes and make them a bit more aware. I don’t think my son’s school needs them because it’s a bit of a quiet area but others are on main roads.”