FEARS have been raised that a child could be killed or injured outside a school after Bolton Council refused calls for a warning sign to be erected.

Chris Noble, the parent of a child at St Thomas CE Primary, wants drivers in Molyneux Road, Westhoughton, to be warned that children may be emerging from the school, which is located slightly off the main road.

He has now won the backing of his local MP Chris Green and the road safety charity Brake.

But Bolton Council has pointed out that a 20 mile per hour limit has been introduced on the road as well as flashing school warning lights and a staffed pedestrian crossing further down the road.

The authority also stated that there have been no accidents near to the school in the past five years.

But Mr Noble, whose son Wesley attends the school, said: “We believe that we are the only primary school in the country with no sign near a school that is hidden down a side street.

“The headmaster has in the past offered to pay for a sign out of school charity money but he has been refused permission to erect one on council property.”

Tory MP Mr Green added: “Everyone in Westhoughton knows how busy Molyneux Road can get and it seems ludicrous that the council won’t allow the school to put a sign up to warn drivers that there is a school nearby.

“St Thomas’ is located slightly off the road so drivers often don’t realise it’s there. A sign may make drivers be more aware and help prevent a tragic accident.”

Greg Marah, spokesman for Brake, the road safety charity said it is ‘deeply worrying’ that the council won’t “ensure the safety of school children by simply putting up a sign to warn drivers that a school is ahead, especially when many parents, the school and local politicians are all in support.”

A spokesman for Bolton Council said: “We understand one resident has raised his concern to his local MP about lack of traffic measures on Molyneux Road.

“However, there have not been any accidents near the school in the last five years.

“We are committed to improving road safety on residential roads and we introduced a 20 miles per hour speed limit on Molyneux Road in October, 2015, as part our borough-wide rollout of 20mph areas.

“At the junction of Molyneux Road and Park Road, there are flashing school warning lights and a pedestrian crossing, staffed by a crossing patrol.

“There are also double yellow lines and a clearly painted school keep clear marking at the junction.”