MONTHS after the Daily Echo exposed parents' dangerous parking outside schools, the situation has not improved.

This week we visited Kings Park Primary School at dropping-off time and witnessed scores of parents' irresponsible behaviour.

At least 10 parents parked in the bus stop outside the school on Ashley Road while they dropped their children off.

Other parents parked up on the pavement on the opposite side of the road and another parked on double yellow lines at the corner of Grantham Road and Ashley Road.

About eight cars were parked on double yellow lines in a side road, Station Approach, while parents walked their children into school.

The narrow road became so congested that parents were stopping in the middle of the road to let their children out.

A few taxis dropped children in Station Approach which, while not illegal, did cause traffic problems when they either did U-turns or reversed out on to Ashley Road.

Head teacher Tanya Bunting said: "Ashley Road can be a nightmare in the morning and it is not easy for parents to find a place to park right on the school's doorstep."

She said that the school encouraged parents, many of whom live near by, to walk their children to school or to park safely a bit further away and walk.

Other head teachers have been pleading with parents to park more safely.

In a newsletter sent from Christ the King Catholic Primary School, head teacher Cathy North wrote: "The local police are concerned about parents parking on the zigzags outside school.

"One parent even parked and left the car running while the children were walked down the drive! It really has to stop before a child is killed - it could be your child - don't do it!"

We visited the school on October 3 but found only one parent parking on the zigzag outside the school.

On October 9 we observed parents at St James Church of England Primary School in Pokesdown parking on the zigzags outside the school and parking on single yellow lines behind the school in Spurgeon Road.

National road safety charity Brake has called on local authorities to introduce 20mph zones around all schools.

Head of campaigns at the charity Cathy Keeler said: "Seventy-one children were killed on foot last year on UK roads and many parents live in fear that their child will be knocked down by a vehicle every time they leave the house.

"Brake urges drivers to slow down in any location where children are using roads and is calling on the government to require local authorities to introduce 20mph zones around homes and schools."

The charity is involved in road safety week, which starts on November 5.