The reason video cameras were mysteriously placed outside a primary school has been revealed.
The Manchester Evening News reported earlier how residents raised concerns about the equipment, which appeared in Ravenwood Drive outside Poplar Primary School in Audenshaw, Tameside.
Even school staff were in the dark, with headteacher Iain Linsdell saying police told him to advise parents to 'obscure your child's face as you leave school until they will come and remove them and investigate further'.
But just as residents were preparing to take action themselves - with Councillor Oliver Ryan threatening to cut them down - the reason for the cameras became clear.
A sign was installed on the post explaining that the cameras are part of a review of the crossing on behalf of Transport for Greater Manchester.
It says: "CCTV in operation. This video collection is being undertaken by TRL Limited as part of a review of this crossing on behalf of Transport for Greater Manchester.
"Data is collected for the purpose of understanding pedestrian and motorist behaviour."
Coun Ryan said he was about to cut them down had he not been informed of their purpose.
He said: "I'm very pleased to have got to the bottom of this local mystery, I live close by myself on Denton Road and had wondered what they were.
"For all the residents, school kids and parents, I'm relieved to know they're nothing dodgy. Thanks to all the residents who called me or messaged me through Facebook to report it too.
"Shows the strength of our Audenshaw neighbourhood though, when me and a couple of residents would've cut them down had we not found out what they were - we pull together here."
A spokesperson for Tameside Council confirmed the cameras were installed by the authority and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) 'to understand pedestrian movements with a view to improving safety'.
It's understood some residents were informed about the cameras being installed, but it's not clear how many were told.
A TfGM spokesperson said: “They are temporary traffic monitoring cameras installed as part of a project Tameside Council is running in partnership with TfGM.
"The contract stated that a sign be installed to explain what the cameras are for and local residents have been notified.
“We apologise for any confusion and will work with the council to rectify this as a matter of urgency.”
