PARENTS want action after children arrived at school with wet feet because of a flooded footpath.

The path, off Appledore Drive, which leads to Harwood Meadow Primary School, Harwood, is used by parents and children who have been soaked because of flooding in wet weather.

Bradshaw Cllr Paul Brierley said it is ridiculous that people have to walk through water as deep as six inches in parts to get to the school.

He said: "Work needs to be carried out most urgently for the safety of parents and children. We have set the ball rolling."

David Hoyle, aged 52, who walks his granddaughter, Ellenor, to school, said: "I am disabled. I have to struggle to pick up my granddaughter and carry her over the water for 10ft because I don't want her sitting in class with wet feet.

"In the three years I've been taking her to school, the path has never been cleaned."

Mr Hoyle handed out leaflets raising the issue with parents, and urging them to contact Bolton Council to complain.

He says he was asked to stop because the council was inundated with calls.

Under plans to stop the flooding, new drainage will be added to the path which will be raised to prevent water gathering.

Harwood Meadow Headteacher Siobain Barnes said the path is the responsibility of the council and the school is waiting to hear when work will start.

Cllr Brierley said: "The work will hopefully be carried out during the next half term because the entrance to the school will have to be closed."

A council spokesman said the work will form part of an ongoing programme to repair footpaths around schools.

No date has been set for the work to begin, and no price has been given for the repairs.