A schoolgirl has become the hero of her community by securing what scores of concerned residents have been struggling to achieve for decades.

Emma Green, eight, holding her letter from the council, with Coun Hilary Saynor, on the main street in Stamford Bridge. Picture: Mike Tipping

It was during the 'Sixties when fed-up villagers in Stamford Bridge first asked for a pedestrian crossing on the notoriously busy main road.

In the 'Seventies, with traffic levels worsening, the increasingly despondent campaigners tried again, organising a series of petitions.

By the 'Eighties and 'Nineties, they were becoming desperate, arranging committee meetings of concerned villagers, more petitions and campaigns of begging letters to the council.

Nothing happened. But today, Stamford Bridge revealed its secret weapon: eight-year-old Emma Green, who last month wrote to the council asking for a zebra crossing and has received the reply: Sure, no problem.

Stunned residents are delighted at the youngster's unexpected success.

Coun Hilary Saynor, vice-chairman of the parish council, said: "It's absolutely wonderful. It has always been the number one issue in this village and we've been trying for years to get a crossing. I just can't believe it."

She said villagers took their lives in their hands crossing the A166, which inconveniently separates residential areas from the shops. "In the summer, the only way you can cross is to wait until the traffic lights change one way, then scoot into the middle of the road and wait - with cars going past in front and behind you - until the lights change the other way," she said. "We do all the things we teach children never to do."

Emma, of Otterwood Paddock, said: "I'm almost nine and my mum and dad are going to let me go down to the shops on my own soon, but I have my doubts about crossing the road.

"So I wrote to the council asking them if they could please give our village a zebra crossing, which would make it safer for people like me and elderly people. And they wrote back saying yes."

The Stamford Bridge County Primary School pupil added: "I'm very pleased. It's probably because I'm a child. My parents say they are very proud of me."

John Lister, highway network services manager for East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said a recent traffic survey had indicated that a pedestrian crossing would be justified. Councillors have voted for it to be built with council funding in the next financial year.

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