THERE was a time – not so very long ago – when youngsters "playing out" were a common sight in terraced streets across Bristol.

But at some point, over the last generation, something has changed.

Today, as I stroll through the terraced rows of Windmill Hill, there isn't a single child to be seen. No abandoned skipping ropes on front garden walls. No Action Men scaling front steps. No hop-scotch markings chalked on to pavements.

Could it be the result of a growing angst from parents – fearful of increasing numbers of cars and an ever-spiralling consciousness of "stranger danger"?

Or is it a result of children's evolving tastes – are they happier watching TV, or "socialising" with friends online?

It's fair to say it's probably a combination of the two. But an informal network of mums in south Bristol has come together to try to bring back a little of the "playing out" spirit, for one afternoon at least.

The Playing Out project is the brainchild of Alice Ferguson and Amy Rose – two young mothers from Greville Road, in Bedminster, who decided to close their road to traffic for an afternoon last year, in order to give the youngsters living there chance to "play out" the old-fashioned way.

Now the pair are encouraging other mums and dads to do the same – by temporarily closing six south Bristol streets over the summer.

As I arrive at Windmill Hill on a warm June afternoon, it's the turn of Eldon Terrace to erect the "Road Closed" signs.

"It all began when Amy and I had a conversation about how kids don't seem to be able to play out in the streets anymore, for fear of being run over," Alice explains.

"So we thought, as an experiment, we would arrange to close the road to traffic for three hours, to see if the children were able to play differently – much more in the way we played when we were kids.

"We were amazed by the result. The whole community got behind the event, and all the children came out and played together.

"There were no computer games or expensive toys in sight, all we allowed them to have were a few pieces of chalk and the odd skipping rope.

"The kids loved it. The older residents in the street introduced them to games like hopscotch, which they took to very quickly, and started to enjoy just as much as older generations had done in the past."

Amy adds: "It was fascinating to see the way it brought the community together. There were some children who came out to play whom we'd had no idea lived in our street – because we'd never seen them out of the house.

"Shy kids were transformed, and it's had a lasting impression on some of the youngsters, who had previously struggled to integrate themselves into the community of children in the street. We were so delighted with the event, that we decided to offer our help with getting other streets in south Bristol to give it a go."

As 3pm arrives, Amy and Alice join residents of Eldon Terrace and neighbouring Mendip Road in erecting the "Road Closed" signs at either end of the street.

Apparently from nowhere, strings of bunting appear overhead, and before anyone quite realises how it's happened, the local children start playing in the car-free street.

At first, it's just the little pre-school tots, who scrabble around on the usually strictly out-of-bounds Tarmac, but moments after the ring of a distant school bell hangs on the wind, the street fills up with children of all ages – their school ties joyfully cast aside as they throw themselves into the spirit of the occasion.

Local mum Naomi Fuller, 38, has brought along three-year-old daughter Isobel to join the fun.

"It's amazing," she says. "It's such a simple idea, but it's so effective. It seems to really bring the children out of their shells.

"Isobel is having a great time playing in the street. It's a community event, and it's not just the kids who come out to play – the older residents love it too."

Helen Adshead, also of Eldon Terrace, is keeping an eye on four-year-old son Malachy, as she chats to other mums on the street.

"It's wonderful," she says. "We had a street party a couple of years ago, and that brought everyone together, so when we heard about Alice and Amy's idea, we thought it would be great to contact them and ask for their help so we could do the same.

"We put leaflets through everybody's doors and on car windscreens a few weeks ago, so everyone was aware we were doing it. All the residents have been supportive.

"The event ends at 6pm, so it shouldn't disrupt commuters arriving home from work too badly."

Amy adds: "It's brilliant to see children playing out in the streets.

"Sometimes mums are too busy to take their kids to the park – traditionally mums have always been able to keep on with their household chores while their little ones play out with friends in the street.

"Although these are one-off events, we think they can do a lot of lasting good for the communities involved."