Pupils at a Billericay school have written to neighbours, apologising for parking problems in roads around the site.

Residents in Dukes Road and The Grove are angry about an increased number of pupils and parents parking in their roads.

The problem has arisen because a housing development within the Mayflower School grounds has reduced the amount of parking space available.

In a letter signed "yours apologetically - students of Mayflower upper sixth", the pupils have said sorry for their role in the problem.

They explain: "The pupils of Mayflower sixth form would like to apologise for any inconvenience we have caused you with the parking of our cars along your road.

"Although there are spaces left in the school grounds for parking we are not allowed to use them, forcing us to find other places to park.

"It was the school who caused the problem and not just the students - they could also rectify the situation by giving us some parking facilities, which we have asked for.

"We have not intentionally caused congestion in your road - we have tried to keep the peace by moving if asked and we are sure next year's sixth form will do the same."

Drives have been blocked and the two roads have, at times, become impassable for wide vehicles such as dust carts and delivery lorries.

Town councillor Peter Clark has arranged a meeting at the school on June 10 to discuss the problems.

Linda Bamford, school headteacher, said she had been working closely with residents and the council in a bid to solve the problem.

She said: "Young people are criticised a lot and I think they've tried to handle this in a mature way.

"It shows they are concerned about the situation and I am confident that they will try and do as much as they can to lessen the nuisance factor.

"Indirectly, they are right in that the school did cause the problem. They did originally have a parking facility here, but I must say no sixth formers in any school have a right to on-site parking.

"It's a difficult situation to resolve. They've lost a facility and it's difficult for them so I can appreciate their point of view but I can't stop them parking there."

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