They look like something from an episode of Doctor Who and are the latest weapon in the battle to slow down speeding drivers.

One of the metal figures of schoolchildren, outside Avenue Primary School, in the city's Clarendon Park, has already been knocked over.

But city councillors say if the project is shown to work, schools across Leicester could have the "child bollards" at their gates.

The bollards, part of a £230,000 road safety project, have been put on a pavement outside the school.

They are designed to slow speeding cars and prevent people from parking.

Other changes include a 20mph speed limit and a new zebra crossing in Clarendon Park Road, Leicester.

Henry Johnson, 50, from Knighton, said: "They've got scary eyes. A friend of mine was out walking at night and was really freaked out by them. It's just weird.

"It reminds me of the Autons from Doctor Who, that were like mannequins that came alive."

Sylvia Thomas, who lives in nearby Greenhill Road, said: "I can't see the point of them. If they are there to calm traffic they don't work, because one has already been knocked over.

"They are quite strange."

Helen Evans, 44, from Knighton, said: "They look great. I think they're cute – and hopefully they will make people drive more carefully and remember there are children around here."

Will Hartley, 29, from Highfields, also backed what he called "a good idea".

He said: "They might help, because they do stand out well. They look quite stern, though. They could have had them smiling."

Graham Adams, 69, from Clarendon Park, was also a fan.

He said: "I like the idea. They put all these speed ramps in that just damage people's cars and frustrate paramedics. These are a new idea – although in this day and age, I'm sure it won't be long before they're vandalised."

Children passing the school yesterday mostly thought the bollards fun. Rowan Salmon, nine, said: "They look like real children... just a bit odd."

His mother, Yvette, 46, said: "It's a weird thing to do, but there is a lot of traffic around here when parents are dropping off their kids."

Her friend Jane McCarron, 42, thought the bollards were "scary".

"I was quite spooked when I first saw them. They do stare at you a bit," she said.

Councillor Patrick Kitterick, the council's highways spokesman, said: "I've seen the new bollards and they're very interesting. It's the first time we've used them, and we're trying them out to see how they work.

"They are causing a lot of discussion, but hopefully also helping to slow people down, which is what they're designed for.

"The chair of governors seem to be very pleased with them – and a lot of people are finding them very interesting.

"They are grabbing people's attention, and if that helps slow people down then it's a good thing.

"If we get good feedback from the school, saying that these are working to slow down drivers, then we would look at installing them in other schools in the city."