Bradford Council has unveiled its new weapon in the war against drivers who put children’s lives in jeopardy.

Council bosses say young lives are being put in danger “on a daily basis” outside schools because of parents parking illegally.

Now a new £50,000 CCTV car will be patrolling the district’s schools, catching motorists breaking the law and fining them £70.

Outside of school hours, the car will be sent out to other illegal parking hot-spots.

Council wardens say they get calls from most of Bradford’s schools, asking them to sort out traffic problems at the school gates.

When they do, they often find parents parking on zig-zag markings outside schools, on double yellow lines, or blocking the drives of nearby homes. Children have to dodge cars parked haphazardly or doing U-turns.

The Council says some of the parents live very close to the schools and wardens sometimes have to deal with motorists being aggressive when they are asked to move on.

The new marked car is fitted with automatic number plate recognition technology and records details of illegally parked vehicles as it passes by.

Councillor Val Slater, executive member for transport, said: “There have been a number of major problems at schools across our district caused by drivers who park irresponsibly, posing a serious risk to the safety of children and other pedestrians.

“The safety of children around our schools is paramount and selfish and dangerous motorists are putting the lives of our children in danger on a daily basis.

“The zig-zag markings are there for a reason. Children need to be able to see to cross the road and if cars are parked illegally, this blocks the view of on-coming traffic.

“People think that it’s okay parking for just a minute, but it takes less than that for a child’s life to be ended and they will have to live with the consequences for the rest of their lives.”

The car visited Grove House Primary School yesterday, when children had a look inside.

Chris Kelly, chairman of the school’s governors, said: “We wholeheartedly welcome this initiative that will help keep children safe while getting to and from school. Hopefully, it will also ease congestion in the neighbourhood by encouraging more parents to walk their children to school.”