Concerned parents in Flax Bourton have launched a campaign to press for a crossing and a 20mph speed limit outside the village school.

Worried mums and dads held a protest at Flax Bourton Primary at Station Road, waving banners and placards to highlight the need for better safety measures.

The road, used by people wanting to get from the A370 to the B3128, currently has a speed limit of 30mph.

Parents want this reduced to 20mph and a pedestrian crossing created to help their children cross to class safely.

Mum Sarah Clarke, 38, who has two children at the school, is leading the fight for more safety measures.

Mrs Clark, a civil servant, said: "I have been pressing for better safety measures on Station Road for some time.

"The council put in a yellow hatched line across the road to guide children, but because people park along the street, they have to walk out between parked cars, which is really dangerous.

"There was a near miss the other day when a student tried to cross the road and was nearly hit by a car.

"It was only the fact that her mother grabbed her in time that she wasn't hit.

"People come across the humpbacked bridge before the school and if they are travelling at 30mph or faster, they would not be able to stop in time if a child walked out into the road

"What we really need is the speed limit reduced to 20mph outside the school and some form of official crossing.

"We would also like to see the zig-zag lines on the road in front of the school extended to both sides of the road."

Parents have now set an online petition – www.bigPO.com/flax/petition/html - to campaign for the improvement and are urging people to pledge their support.

Mrs Clark said: "We want people to log on and sign the petition and show North Somerset Council that we are serious about getting these improvements in place.

"North Somerset Council needs to make the money available to carry out this work.

"We cannot wait until a child is seriously injured or killed before any action is taken."

Police have also been carrying out patrols of the area around the school to ensure people are parking safely at peak times.

They have also put up vehicle activated speed signs to remind drivers of the 30mph limit in place.

Flax Bourton beat manager, PC Grieg Difford, said: "We are aware of the concerns from parents regarding safety at Station Road and have been carrying out patrols and the beginning and end of the school day."

A meeting took place this week between parents, school leaders, parish councillors, police and North Somerset road safety chiefs to discuss the issue.

North Somerset Council spokesman, Nick Yates, said: "Following the meeting a number of measures have been agreed including cutting back hedges in the area. We will also be moving the speed limit signs and considering whether the school meets the criteria for a school crossing patrol.

"We are also seeing if we can introduce a safer parking plan in the area and are reminding people to drive safely and within the limits on the approaches to the school."