PEOPLE living near to a busy school have called for action to end their parking nightmare.

Residents gathered outside SS Osmund and Andrew RC School in Breightmet on Thursday afternoon to highlight the problem.

And they pointed to a car park just yards away from the school that many parents are not using, choosing instead to create traffic chaos.

The school has tried to address the issue.

But at the start of the day and between 3pm and 3.30pm, cars park bumper to bumper along Brodick Drive and also up the side roads surrounding the school.

Several solutions have been suggested, including: ■ Single yellow lines on Brodick Drive.

■ A new car park on council land opposite.

■ A drop-off and pick-up zone to be created for parents.

However, a new car park or drop-off point would cost between £50,000 and £80,000 and residents fear yellow lines would simply push the problem further along the road. Ann Barker, aged 58, of Brodick Drive, said: “If we want to come and go at busy times, it is almost impossible.

“When it is gridlocked there is a chance a fire engine or ambulance could be blocked.”

Arthur Drinnan, aged 57, of Slaidburn Avenue, added: “It is not necessarily the parents’ fault, there is just a lack of provision.”

Head teacher John Thorpe said he would welcome more yellow lines outside the school.

Mr Thorpe also said the school had done everything it could to encourage parents to park responsibly.

Pupils have previously made a banner urging their parents to park sensibly.

Mr Thorpe said: “Every letter we send out asks parents to park sensibly and drive safely and we have asked parents to park on Tansey Green car park and some do.

“We are doing the best we can, I don’t know what else we can do.” Half of the school’s children walk to school.

Tansey Green car park was resurfaced and has space for 40 cars. But residents say it is rarely full at the school’s busiest times.

Councillors Arthur Norris and Lynda Byrne both came to the school on Thursday.

Cllr Byrne said: “I think a drop-off point would be best but there isn’t the finances at the moment.”