Youngsters reclaim the streets in Stoke Newington

Play stopped traffic outside a Stoke Newington primary school, as pupils reclaimed the street for hula hooping, skipping and games.

About 150 children took part in the play street session at Princess May Primary in Barrett’s Grove, which is one of three Hackney schools which have applied to run them regularly.

Hackney Council introduced the Play Streets scheme in September 2012, which allows people to apply for an order to close roads off to traffic.

Halima Begum, whose two children attend the school, said: “My children were very excited when they came out and saw they could play in the street then and there with their friends. “They loved riding up and down on their bikes and doing the chalk drawing, afterwards all they wanted to know was, “When can we do it again?””

Since its introduction there have been applications to run regular play street sessions in 24 streets.

For more information see www.hackney.gov.uk/play-streets.htm.