A CAR demolished a 10-ft stretch of safety railings outside a north-east primary school yesterday—just minutes before pupils arrived and only seconds after a council road worker had left the scene.

The section of metal railings at New Machar Primary was crushed after a green Ford Focus skidded on School Road, crashing into barriers and leaving them buckled across the pavement and against the playground wall.

The incident at the school gates came on the day the community council and police officially handed over hundreds of reflective armbands in a road safety gesture.

Aberdeenshire Council roadman Dave Holmes had just scattered sand across the pavement near the school entrance before the accident happened.

The shaken 56-year-old said, “It was very cold and slippery, and I was worried kids might fall so I carefully did the path just after 8.10am.

“It was awkward to take the small tractor and gritter for pavements between the railing and wall, so I stopped the machine and did the stretch with my shovel.

“I had just moved the equipment 10 yards further on into the school car park when I heard a crash,” said Mr Holmes, of Ness Circle, Ellon.

“The car flattened a whole section of railings, just where I had just been working moments before.

“It was scary, but I was most relieved the crash happened just before kids started arriving for school.

A local delivery driver said he was not too surprised to see the car stuck in the pavement railing.

“This is always a bad corner,” he said.

“The village pavements are regularly sanded, but the council gritting lorries hardly ever seem to do the street.”

“I really think the road should be a priority, given the church and school along with Newmachar Library are all within yards of this really sharp corner,” he added.

Grampian Police were quickly at the scene and directed traffic until a breakdown truck removed the damaged car.

Police said both occupants of the car were unhurt.

The vehicle involved had been travelling slowly and the crash appeared to have been caused by the weather conditions.

Aberdeenshire Council workmen removed the wrecked railings and erected a new pavement barrier before school closed yesterday.

Head teacher Beryl Tobin said that thankfully the accident happened before any children arrived and the council has carried out a very speedy repair.

A council spokesman said the local authority was now looking into further safety measures at the sharp bend, and anti- skid coating to the road surface would be considered.

Newmachar Community Council chairman Fergus Hood echoed local concern over the incident and said he would be monitoring remedial work at the scene.

“It is a very tight bend, and safety must be a priority outside a busy school,” he said.

By coincidence he and other community group members were at the primary later yesterday in a road safety visit.

The community council donated £400 and Grampian Police added £200 to buy 800 high visibility armbands to be given out to pupils.

Mrs Tobin said, “It is a fantastic gesture and very worthwhile safety move.”

The school had intended providing the reflective armbands, but the combined community council and police initiative meant school funds could now be targeted elsewhere.