Worried parents and teachers have petitioned Bradford Council for traffic calming measures to be installed outside their Shipley school gates.

Staff and governors at High Crags First School, Crag Road, are concerned that cars driving and parking on Pratt Lane - a second access route to the school - are putting the lives of children in danger.

And they have sent an 82-name petition to the council asking them to consider the problem, saying that it is only a matter of time before a child is injured or killed by on-coming traffic.

Headteacher Gillian Roberts said: "We're very concerned about the daily hazards that children and parents face on their journey to and from school.

"The school is situated on Crag Road but has access on Pratt Lane and it's the vehicular access on Pratt Lane which puts children most in danger.

"We have a gate which is meant to deter cars from approaching the school, but we still find the road is used with total disregard for children and their parents."

Mrs Roberts added that there were no road markings on Pratt Lane to indicate to drivers that they were approaching a school and that teachers and governors were now seeking advice on what traffic calming measures could be implemented.

Mrs Roberts said: "There hasn't been a serious accident yet on the road, but it's no good sitting back and waiting for that to happen before something's done.

"We got the petition together in the space of a day, which shows the amount of concern about the issue.

"It's the safety of the pupils which is the important thing -we just want to protect the children."

The matter is due to be discussed at a Shipley Constituency Area panel meeting next Tuesday.

A Council spokesman said: "Investigations into the options to minimise or alleviate these problems are being carried out and will be reported with cost estimates to the appropriate committee for consideration."

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