TEACHERS and parents are campaigning for a pelican crossing on a road outside a Worcestershire school which they say is dangerous.

Parents of pupils at Great Malvern Primary School, on Pickersleigh Road in Malvern, collected 1,000 signatures last term petitioning for a crossing on the busy road.

Headteacher Jonathan Sides, aged 50, who has been helping pupils across the road since their lollipop man, Stan Pratty, aged 75, retired in May, said he had nearly been knocked down twice in the past week.

Now, West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer has written to Worcestershire County Council's highways department appealing for a crossing after visiting the school last week.

"I'm quite a big chap and if they won't stop for me they certainly won't for a parent with a pushchair," said Mr Sides.

"The parents are up in arms about it and are very anxious about how busy it is.

"We feel very strongly this is an area of considerable danger and there's no protection at all."

He said it did not help that the school was on a bend, reducing visibility for motorists and pedestrians, and traffic tended to move briskly after getting through pedestrian crossings at Barnard's Green.

Mr Sides planned to stop as acting lollipop man in September but distressed parents appealed to him to continue, as the county council is struggling to find someone to fill the role.

"It's such an imposition because I haven't really got much time to do it. But because it's also such an important job I've stayed on to do it as it's such a dangerous road," he said.

Mike Davis, county council highways partnership manager, said the school was not identified as a problem because they had a crossing patrol there.

Road markings

However, he said steps would be taken to improve visibility, "slow" road markings and "school crossing" warning lights would be installed, and they would appoint a lollipop lady.

"Our Safer Routes to School team are looking at the site again to see if the crossing can be improved," he said.

"In the meantime, we're working with the school to make the existing crossing as safe as possible."

Anyone wanting to volunteer as a lollipop lady should telephone 01905 766757.