Stop, check, then go, go, go

An army of 340 year 6 students from 11 schools drew attention in Invercargill’s city centre on Tuesday as they marched while wearing hi-vis vests and chanting: ‘‘Signs out; check; clear, cross now.’’

The annual Orange Parade celebrates the children who volunteer their time for safety patrols before and after school throughout the year to make sure their classmates can cross the road in front of school safely.

Invercargill school community officer Constable Martin Lohrey said the children were thanked by Invercargill mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt on behalf of the council and the community as well as the police officers who trained them.

‘‘They do a tremendous job, and they do it in the Invercargill winter,’’ Lohrey said.

The students marched from Invercargill Middle School, down Don St, onto Kelvin St, and then up Esk St towards the council building, where they caught a bus to Splash Palace for a celebration.

The route was altered this year because of the construction in the city centre.