BOLLARDS put in place to keep children safe following the death of a five-year-old school boy in Tollcross have been knocked down by careless drivers.

As previously reported by the Evening Times, Dalness Street where Lennon Toland was struck and killed by a van, was to be lined with bollards to stop unsafe parking.

Just days after being installed, two bollards placed close to the spot where the youngster was killed have been destroyed.

Glasgow Times: Dalness Street bollard

Lennon’s family, who welcomed the increased safety measure, said the destruction is proof of the careless driving going on in the street frequented by school children.

The St Paul's primary one pupil died after being struck by a van which had mounted the pavement to gain access to a makeshift carpark in September last year.

In the months since, his family have campaigned for the area to be made safer.

Lennon’s grandad Brian Toland deemed the destruction as “disrespectful”.

He said: “We were pleased when they decided to put up the bollards but if it’s not going to stop people driving on the pavement then it has been a waste of money.

“God forbid if another accident was to happen.

“We know that vans from nearby businesses still mount the kerb to get in and out of the street so it’s likely been one of them.

“No one in the community would have done this because they all wanted the bollards as much as us.”

Declan Toland, Lennon’s uncle, added: “We can’t say for certain who it was that done it but it seems like it would have been either a van reversing out as it wasn’t there on Wednesday night.

“It’s just more proof of the carelessness shown by drivers event when the bollards are in place.”

Glasgow City Council decided to make the change following pressure from members of the public and Lennon’s family.

A team from the Land and Environmental Services department visited the street and deemed it to be full of unsafe parking before installing the reflective bollards on October 16.

A spokeswoman from Glasgow City Council commented: “Our team will be fixing the bollards and securing them with concrete to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

“At this moment in time we don’t know what the circumstances are we are treating it as vandalism.

“Bollards prevent vehicles accessing areas they shouldn’t. In this case they are there to stop vehicles mounting the pavement.

“We will reinstate any that are damaged and make sure the others are secure.”