Residents living close to an infants school today claimed they have been let down over promises to solve traffic problems in the area.

And they fear there will be a serious accident if measures are not taken to ease the congestion.

It was more than year ago that people living in Windsor Avenue and Balmoral Avenue in Clacton complained about cars parking up on pavements and across drives to get close to Oakwood Infants School.

They were told that traffic wardens would make efforts to patrol at peak times and monitor the situation.

If that did not work other measures would be considered to tackle the problem.

But Pat Linn, of Balmoral Avenue, said things had got worse - not better.

"There are another 50 or so youngsters who attend the new nursery unit, and that means more parents dropping them off and picking them up," she said.

"It is impossible to get in and out of our drives at certain times of the day and parents are often abusive if you ask them to move."

She said many of the residents were totally fed up with the situation and yet nobody seemed to be doing anything about it.

"We were told there would not be a problem before the school moved here - but that has not proved the case," she added.

"Next we were promised something would be done but we have been let down badly. Apart from anything else it is dangerous and someone will get hurt sooner or later."

Another resident, who lives nearer the school site but did not want to be named, said parents even drove along the pavement when there was no room to get through.

"It is total chaos at times but the police and traffic wardens don't seem to take action," he said

Mick Hewitt, deputy traffic warden at Clacton Police Station, said the matter would be re-investigated in view of the complaints.

"Obviously the move to extend zig-zag lines up there has not worked and we need to look at it again," he said.

"I will arrange another site meeting with Tendring Council's highways department to see what we can come up with."

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