THOUSANDS of children are being put at risk by irresponsible parking outside two of Bournemouth's biggest schools, it has been claimed.

Traffic chaos outside Avonbourne and Portchester will lead to casualties unless parking restrictions are introduced by Bournemouth council, said head teacher Pauline Greaves.

Some drivers are even parking on private access roads to the schools, meaning emergency vehicles would have difficulty getting in if required, it has been claimed. Now Mrs Greaves, head of Avonbourne, has been given permission to erect no parking signs and to warn drivers they may be clamped if they park in access roads.

But she said she can do nothing about parking in Harewood Avenue unless the council steps in to help.

"It is extremely difficult at both ends of the day" said Mrs Greaves. "People are parking on both sides of Harewood Avenue and it is getting blocked.

"More than 2,000 children and hundreds of staff are trying to get in and out of the two schools and it is very dangerous. We need some action from the council."

Worried parent Loraine Willson has two daughters, aged 12 and 15, who attend Avonbourne.

"It is utter chaos at the beginning and end of the school day" she said. "Hundreds of children need to cross that road and it is an accident waiting to happen.

"Some people are even parking in the bus stop which is obviously dangerous."

Mrs Greaves plans to erect signs in access roads this week warning that anyone who parks there could find their car clamped when they return.

Bournemouth Borough Council said new traffic regulations have been drawn up to tackle the problems surrounding Avonbourne School and Harewood Avenue which should come into force in early October.

This will ban cars from parking in parts of Harewood Avenue and Petersfield Road and bring in restrictions in Newlands Road.

First published: Sept 10