This is Leicestershire --
Children played hopscotch and table tennis in the middle of a busy city street – and their parents didn't bat an eyelid.
Residents of Northcote Road in Knighton, Leicester, applied for an order to close the road for three hours on Tuesday afternoon.
The aim of the city's first playing out event was to allow the street's many youngsters to enjoy playing games in the street and allow residents to mingle and get to know one another.
Organisers Jasmin Sore and Sally White, who live in the street, had heard about similar schemes which had taken place in Bristol and Hackney, in London, and decided to give it a go.
The pair successfully applied for a £220 grant from the Leicester City Council Castle ward community fund to pay for the application and public liability insurance to close the road from 3pm to 6pm.
Jasmin said: "We're encouraging people to come out, have a cup of tea and talk to their neighbours. It's not just for the children.
"It is quite interesting that even though the road is closed they're still riding their bikes and scooters on the pavements."
Dozens of youngsters who go to one of the five nearby primary and secondary schools filled the road, drawing with chalk, playing giant snakes and ladders, hopscotch or table tennis and generally enjoying the freedom of the thoroughfare, which is normally a busy cut-through used by motorists going between Queens Road and Welford Road. Stewards at either end of the closure, between Queens Road and Craighill Road, allowed residents or delivery vehicles in or out, walking in front of their vehicles.
Daisy Sore, 11, said: "My nan used to say they always used to be going out in the street, playing so I've wanted to do it."
Sister Grace, 10, said: "It's a good idea and I've got some of my friends here, as well.
"When you're crossing the road, you have to be careful so it's nice not to have to worry about it today."
Amie Hodgkin, 11, who had come from her Milford Road home with mum, Ellen, and 12-year-old brother James to join in the fun, said: "It's really good, it's fun. In our road, we play on the pavements, but the little ones never get to come out because of the road. I would like to see this happen more often."
Bob Balwant, 62, said: "It's like a trip down memory lane, it's how it used to be when we were kids. Most people know their immediate neighbours, but it's good to get people out, getting to know one another.
"It's a joy to see children out playing in the street."
John Henshaw, 66, said: "We've lived in the street for two years and got to know the immediate neighbours but we've talked to some other people today."
Wife, Liz, 65, said: "It's great to see people out in the street, it's like it used to be."
Jasmin said: "If it's a success, we may see if we can self fund a similar event in the future by approaching residents and businesses to help."
www.playingout.net/ Reported by This is 16 hours ago.
Children played hopscotch and table tennis in the middle of a busy city street – and their parents didn't bat an eyelid.
Residents of Northcote Road in Knighton, Leicester, applied for an order to close the road for three hours on Tuesday afternoon.
The aim of the city's first playing out event was to allow the street's many youngsters to enjoy playing games in the street and allow residents to mingle and get to know one another.
Organisers Jasmin Sore and Sally White, who live in the street, had heard about similar schemes which had taken place in Bristol and Hackney, in London, and decided to give it a go.
The pair successfully applied for a £220 grant from the Leicester City Council Castle ward community fund to pay for the application and public liability insurance to close the road from 3pm to 6pm.
Jasmin said: "We're encouraging people to come out, have a cup of tea and talk to their neighbours. It's not just for the children.
"It is quite interesting that even though the road is closed they're still riding their bikes and scooters on the pavements."
Dozens of youngsters who go to one of the five nearby primary and secondary schools filled the road, drawing with chalk, playing giant snakes and ladders, hopscotch or table tennis and generally enjoying the freedom of the thoroughfare, which is normally a busy cut-through used by motorists going between Queens Road and Welford Road. Stewards at either end of the closure, between Queens Road and Craighill Road, allowed residents or delivery vehicles in or out, walking in front of their vehicles.
Daisy Sore, 11, said: "My nan used to say they always used to be going out in the street, playing so I've wanted to do it."
Sister Grace, 10, said: "It's a good idea and I've got some of my friends here, as well.
"When you're crossing the road, you have to be careful so it's nice not to have to worry about it today."
Amie Hodgkin, 11, who had come from her Milford Road home with mum, Ellen, and 12-year-old brother James to join in the fun, said: "It's really good, it's fun. In our road, we play on the pavements, but the little ones never get to come out because of the road. I would like to see this happen more often."
Bob Balwant, 62, said: "It's like a trip down memory lane, it's how it used to be when we were kids. Most people know their immediate neighbours, but it's good to get people out, getting to know one another.
"It's a joy to see children out playing in the street."
John Henshaw, 66, said: "We've lived in the street for two years and got to know the immediate neighbours but we've talked to some other people today."
Wife, Liz, 65, said: "It's great to see people out in the street, it's like it used to be."
Jasmin said: "If it's a success, we may see if we can self fund a similar event in the future by approaching residents and businesses to help."
www.playingout.net/ Reported by This is 16 hours ago.