A SCHOOL will close a road for two hours today as part of a national protest against heavy traffic and poor air quality.

St Luke’s Primary School will shut Queen’s Park Rise in Brighton between 8.30am and 9.30am, and 3.10pm and 4.10pm.

A spokesman for the school said: “As a community, we would like to celebrate the benefits of active travel to school.

“We will be filling the street with fun activities including playground games, bike and scooter activities, singing, circus skills and pavement drawing.

To allow for this, the school started late at 9.30am.

St Luke’s Primary School is one of 39 schools in the UK taking part in the Sustrans Big Pedal 2019s School Streets event.

This aims to encourage pupils to use “human power” - choosing to walk or cycle to school - by closing the streets outside the premises.

A spokesman for the campaign said: “School Streets are short, timed street closures at the start and end of the school day.

“They make the approach to school safer, healthier and less congested for everyone, while making sure residents, businesses, pedestrians and cyclists can still use the road.”

The scheme was developed in Italy and has now been adopted by several schools in the UK.

It has also received the support of Brighton and Hove City Council.