A headteacher is leading a campaign for a crossing patrol after a series of accidents involving her school's pupils.

Christina Briggs said she was "deeply concerned" after an 11-year-old boy's collision with a car outside Cottingley Village Primary, in which he suffered cuts and bruises. And two other youngsters have been involved in minor accidents with parents' cars in the school drive.

Mrs Briggs said children's safety was paramount.

"Not only are we on the corner of two busy roads, but parents are making the situation worse by parking in the school drive at the busiest times of the day," she said.

"We sympathise with the needs of parents as there isn't anywhere to park, but we have to put the children first - next time there could be a fatal accident."

The school is on the corner of Cottingley Moor Road, which has a crossing patrol, and Cottingley Cliffe Road. "Obviously the crossing patrol officer can't be on two roads at the same time and we desperately need another one," said Mrs Briggs.

She said many parents were supportive and were parking in The Sun Inn car park, on Bradford Old Road, to ease congestion, but they faced having to cross a busy road without a patrol to help them.

The school's Ofsted report, published in March, also highlighted the amount of traffic around the school.

Jane Whitworth, whose three children Emma, 11, Marc, eight, and three-year-old Rebecca are pupils at the school, started a petition last year for a zebra crossing outside the building.

And staff and parents fear there will be more traffic in the area because Morris Homes (North) Ltd has submitted a revised plan for 100 homes off Cottingley Moor Road, opposite the school. As part of the bid, planners require the developers to implement traffic-calming measures. But Mrs Whitworth said any road improvement scheme was a long way off.

A Council spokesman said: "We are working with the school community and other partners, including developers, on a number of measures aimed at minimising traffic and parking problems outside the school.

"These include providing a puffin crossing in front of the school on Cottingley Moor Road, widening the footpath on Bradford Old Road to improve pedestrian facilities, and providing off-street parking outside The Sun Inn.

"One of the district's first safety cameras is to be installed on Cottingley Cliffe Road to help reduce traffic speed."

An Education Bradford spokesman said: "We are looking into the possibility of a second patrol person for Cottingley Cliffe Road." He said there were 21 vacancies for patrol officers throughout Bradford.