Wellington, Feb 1 NZPA - An investigation has been launched after film footage of two police cars skidding on a schoolground within metres of a children's bouncy castle appeared online.

The five-minute film clip, uploaded onto YouTube last week was shot by a concerned parent at a fundraising event at Auckland's Target Rd Primary School, The Dominion Post reported.

David MacGregor, who was at the event with his daughter, used his mobile phone to capture shots of the cars.

He said the two uniformed policemen drove children around the grounds doing "figure eights and donuts" with lights flashing and sirens blaring.

The cars skidded near children playing on a bouncy castle and lining up to get icecream, Mr MacGregor said.

The scene "made a mockery" of the Government's safe-driving message, he said.

Police National Headquarters spokeswoman Debbie Corney said Waitemata district police would request the original footage to establish its authenticity and would speak with staff to determine exactly what happened.

The event, a school fundraiser, took place in November 2008.

Mr MacGregor told the newspaper he had not posted the footage online until his phone memory filled up and he learned how to upload it to YouTube.

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