Handing back busy streets so children can play outside in more traditional ways has been hailed a success at the end of an 18-month-long pilot programme.

Roads are blocked off for an entire afternoon, day, or for just a couple of hours.

Ten roads across the borough, Lorne Steet, in West Reading, South View Avenue and Blenheim Road, in Caversham, St Peter’s Road, School Terrace and Talfourd Avenue, in East Reading, Exbourne Road, in Whitley, Cumberland Road in Newtown and Armour Road and Larkswood Close, in Tilehurst, have applied to close their roads under a 167-year-old Town Police Closures Act 1847.

Official 'Road Closed’ signs will now be distributed to the various roads after Reading Borough Council’s transport sub-committee agreed it would continue to grant Play Street road closures instead of residents relying on a row of wheelie bins.

Cathy Timmis, the organiser of the Lorne Street Play Street, said she got involved after hearing about the pilot programme and believes it has had a positive impact on the street. The mother of three, Callum, 10, Skye, eight and Ava six, said it was great to see children playing outside who would otherwise be sat behind a screen.

She said: “We have a lot of children in the street going to about four different schools, mosques or churches. It’s great to see them play together and not just because they already know each other.

“I’ve met new people in the street, too.

“My daughters have learnt to ride bikes by themselves and we have just got a skipping rope to do the things some of the adults remember doing themselves.” She said the natural rat run between Oxford and Tilehurst Roads was closed up to twice a month even through the winter which added to its success.

“It’s about getting outside and away from a screen doing something in the fresh air. We have parks around here but just going out to play doesn’t happen any more,” she added.

Children choose what activities they do including playing football and drawing on the roads with chalk. A box of hired equipment failed to entertain the children busy having other fun.

Lead Transport Councillor Tony Page said the success of the schemes was down to the fact that residents prompted and knew what their streets wanted.