A new footpath has been created to encourage children to walk to school.

The path, in Kington Langley, was created after villagers described a bend in the road as “an accident waiting to happen”.

Wessex Water donated land next to its reservoir in Church Road for the path which avoids a narrow stretch of road used as a rat run between the M4 and Chippenham.

Parish council vice chairman Graham Trickey said: “It posed such a significant danger to pedestrians that many parents chose not to walk their children to school. But the new footpath has made the route much safer and it is already well used.”

Mr Trickey said that Wessex Water had been very co-operative.

“The company immediately saw how the footpath could benefit the community and was positive from the outset,” he said.