Parents who park badly outside a school are to be "shamed" in a special newsletter in a bid to stamp out the practice.

Governors at Westleigh infants and junior schools in Leigh have decided on the measure in an effort to stop parents parking outside the school gates.

The move follows a petition from worried parents warning there could be a death if motorists carry on parking on the double yellow lines to drop off pupils at the Ronald Hill Grove schools.

Chairman of governors Kate Baynes said: "The last thing we want is one of our children being seriously injured or even killed.

"A newsletter will go out listing actual incidents because people might think twice about what they are doing.

"The governors, the staff, and most of the parents are supportive about the problem, it's just one per cent of the parents who think they have a right to park in front of the school."

A group of parents launched a petition two weeks ago calling on the schools' governors to take action.

One parent involved in it, Sue Mackenzie, 34, of Marine Avenue, was delighted with the governors' response.

She said: "They are totally in agreement that we have to do something. The governors will now lobby Leigh Town Council and Southend Council.

"Hopefully, we will try to get residents to lobby councillors too."

Junior school head Cheryl Woolf said: "Both of the schools here are very concerned about parking and the safety of the children at the beginning and the end of the day.

"Parents don't realise they cause potential danger to their children in parking there."

Highways bosses at Southend Council have conducted a special survey at Westleigh Junior School as part of the Government campaign to promote alternatives to the car.

The project dubbed Safer Routes To School is also aimed at cutting road accidents and boosting fitness.

The results of the questionnaire - which has also been conducted at Westcliff High School for Girls - will be analysed soon.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.