Parents who flout road safety rules when they drop off their children at school may face a fine or even a day in Court.

Police have warned they are getting tough with careless drivers who block up roads outside schools in the morning and after school.

The stern message comes after an 11-year-old boy was injured in an incident outside Thornbury Middle School earlier this week.

Although the accident was not caused by poor parking, police say parents picking up their children from school are risking other pupils' safety by parking across entrances.

"Parents who park across the entrances of schools often do so thinking about the safety of their own children.

"But they are not taking into account the safety of other pupils at the school," said Odsal Police Schools Liaison Officer PC David Crane.

"Dangers arise when pupils cross the road from behind these parked cars and are not seen by oncoming traffic.

"It is selfish, especially when people could easily park a short distance away and walk to the school gates."

Traffic manager Sgt Keith Cludery said fixed penalty tickets carrying a £20 fine would be issued to offending motorists.

"Court action may be taken in cases where motorists park particularly dangerously or repeatedly flout the law," he added.

"We liaise with parents, teachers and governors and we are all keen to see the situation resolved. It is only the actions of a few people which causes the problems."

Thornbury Middle's headteacher, Julie Clarke, said parents picking up pupils at her school could park in the car park rather than outside the gates.

"We know they do not want to put their own children at risk and we are sure they would not want to risk the safety of other children," she said.

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