Primary school children helped Essex Police stop 18 drivers for speeding during a School Speed Watch Session.

The pupils, from Hatfield Peverel Junior School, joined PC Deborah Gray and Claire Stone of Road Safety to carry out the checks in Maldon Road on Tuesday.

PC Gray said: "In all there were 18 motorists stopped; all for exceeding the 30mph limit by more than 5mph.

"All of the drivers were taken to a 'Community Wheels' trailer where they were educated by the children in the form of a question and answer session lasting about 10 minutes.

"At first I was quite disappointed to note that most of the offending drivers lived locally and so would have known that the school was on this road.

"But it was very heartening that when we spoke to them after the session with the children they said it had really brought it home to them that these children could be their own children and grandchildren and one driver was moved to tears.

"Another motorist said to us afterwards that they had initially been quite angry about being stopped but that the scheme had really made them realise the cost of what could happen when you speed.”

PC Gray said the officers also had a chance to speak to children and parents about road safety and they were then invited to the village hall where they were offered the chance to speak to another 40 residents about staying safe on the roads of Essex.