Children will be able to play safely in the streets under a new policy that would see neighbourhood roads have a regular closing time to traffic.

Pensioners who remember playing games in a road empty of cars may get the chance to see their grandchildren doing the same under Waltham Forest Council’s new scheme, called ‘Play Streets’.

The idea comes after a pilot was carried out in Wood Street, Walthamstow, last year, and residents of a road would vote to agree a regular closure time to cars and other traffic.

Cllr Clyde Loakes, cabinet member for the environment, said: “Playing in the streets is one of those things that people of a certain age remember fondly and it is sad that our kids are not experiencing it enough.

"This scheme has proved successful elsewhere in the country and the few instances where we have allowed road closures for here have proved very popular, so we’re keen to see the opportunity extended to all neighbourhoods.”

Residents can apply to take part in the scheme by emailing traffic.scheme@walthamforest.gov.uk.