St Amry Redcliffe School, in Windmill Hill, held a circus street party yesterday to celebrate the closure of the busy road outside the school for one day.

The school applied to the council to close Windmill Close to highlight the need for safer use of the road outside the school.

Headteacher Emma Payne said the narrow cul-de-sac gets clogged at the beginning and end of the school day.

Ms Payne said: "We have been encouraging our families to walk, scoot and ride to school, and for those families who have a way to come, to park and stroll – drive to school, but park a short distance away, such as around Victoria Park and then walk through the park, to our back entrance.

"We are keen to promote parking and strolling as we feel it reduces the stress and anxiety of trying to drive in Windmill Close. We are also eager to avoid any accidents. So for one day we reclaimed the street."

Hundreds of children and teachers sang in the street yesterday morning, followed by a circus skills workshops, with the Circus Malabaristas.