Children will be banned from cycling to a Carshalton secondary school unless they display number plates on their bikes from next week.

Stanley Park High, in Damson Way, is introducing a registration scheme which would enable the public to report pupils to the school if necessary.

Youngsters will soon be issued with number plates which "must be displayed when riding to and from school".

Headteacher Amit Amin said the measure is in response to incidents of children cycling in a way that "endangers themselves and others".

In a message published on the school's website, he wrote: "Students without a number plate will not be permitted to cycle to school, or lock their bicycles on school grounds."

The plates are being introduced on October 1 as part of the Safer Cycling Scheme, aimed at encouraging cycling, which features subsidised bike lights and maintenance workshops.

It follows after one of their pupils was allegedly involved in a crash between their bike and a car and, while there were no injuries, this is a “timely reminder that action is necessary”.

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Mr Amin added: “We fully support cycling to school, which is a sustainable means of transport and provides great exercise.

“Promoting cycling and the benefits it brings is part of the school’s travel plan, and we encourage all our students to consider it.

“Encouraging the take-up of cycling at a young age is important, so we would like to thank the many parents who have supported our scheme – we share your commitment to safe cycling and we welcome your suggestions and offers to develop our scheme.”

Stanley Park High has also since issued a statement on the new plans.

It reads: "Our absolute priority is the safety of our students, and the aim of this initiative is simply to ensure their safety as they travel to and from school."

Meanwhile, the Government is introducing new legislation which will see cyclists who kill pedestrians treated in a similar way to dangerous drivers.

The laws are being brought in after 44-year-old mother-of-two Kim Briggs was knocked over and killed by a bicycle courier in February 2016.

Department for Transport (DfT) figures show that 448 pedestrians were killed on Britain's roads in 2016.

Three cases involved collisions with bicycles.