SCHOOLCHILDREN returning to a Nailsea primary after the Christmas break this week felt a lot safer – thanks to a new fence.

The 3m-high green mesh barrier will stop members of the public from walking into the grounds of Golden Valley School from the neighbouring bridleway.

A stone wall separated the school from the path, which people were jumping over.

The Times reported in May that the school had applied to Nailsea Town Council, who own the land, for permission to put up the fence, but some councillors thought it would spoil the views of the surrounding countryside.

But head teacher Kevin Lynch said he was ‘delighted’ with the new security measure.

He said: “The problem was that 90 per cent of our boundary was open to the public, with no clear demarcation of the school’s site.

“We were regularly having to deal with dog mess and walkers going across the school field.

“In the world we live in now we have to be able to guarantee the safety of the children and if we have members of the public walking through the grounds we could not do that.”

The school’s governors delivered letters to houses in the area and public opinion was favourable.

Mr Lynch added: “Parents coming into school have been very positive saying the fence isn’t intrusive.

“In fact you can hardly see it’s there and the children are now very safe from unwanted visitors.”