Parents who park their cars dangerously close to schools face being fined or prosecuted, say police.

Offenders who leave their vehicles illegally parked in restricted areas face a £20 penalty and repeat culprits could face court action.

Police officers will blitz more than 30 schools at the end of the school day in an ongoing initiative to keep the roads safe for children.

Odsal police, who are spearheading the campaign, said the tough action is necessary to prevent a serious accident.

Divisional traffic manager Sergeant Keith Cluderay said letters had been issued to parents through schools alerting them to the dangers of parking in restricted areas - which are marked by zig-zag lines - but few drivers had heeded the warning.

Sgt Cluderay said: "The problem has got worse over recent months and we have had several incidents where children's safety has been put at risk."

He said that dangers arise when pupils cross the road from behind park cars and are not clearly seen by oncoming cars.

Sgt Cluderay said there was a particular problem with parents picking up children from Wibsey First School, in North Road, and nearby Wibsey Middle School.

He said since the schools finish at similar times, the roads were 'chaos' and 'an accident waiting to happen'.

He added that he was in close contact with teachers, governors and parents on this issue.

"They are all keen to see the situation resolved. It is the actions of only a few people which cause the problems," he said.

Ian Williamson, head at Wibsey First said traffic was an age-old problem but it was still a worry.

"A lot of our parents do bring their children to school in cars. All we are asking for is a little common sense. If there child was involved in an injury it wouldn't go down very well. There is a very specific danger here."

Gordon Hart, head of Wibsey Middle, said: "At lunchtime there are also problems because children from both schools have to cross the road for lunch and cars are using the roads as a rat run.

"We also have problems with parents, many of whom don't live that far away and could walk to school, who come in cars and park indiscriminately in the street.

"They become irritated or verbally aggressive when it is pointed out to them that they are parked illegally or dangerously."

He added that the exits from the school were not that well protected with children leaving the school from all angles, posing a further risk to their safety.

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