IT is an issue affecting schools and communities up and down the country.

Although many schools were built before the development of surrounding houses, residents are part of the community and it is only right those dropping off or collecting their children should do so considerately both for the safety of the youngsters and also with respect for those living nearby.

To help ensure drivers aren't obstructing restricted areas, or parking inconsiderately, some schools - and parents - are consciously keeping an eye on the situation.

Local parent and driving instructor, Chris Smith, who runs Driving Mode Driving School in Bradford, says the situation is 'absolutely shocking.'

Chris, who runs speed awareness courses and is also a member of Bradford and District Advanced Drivers Association, says he and his son narrowly escaped being run over when trying to cross the road in between cars parked where they shouldn't be outside the Bradford school his son attends.

He is so passionate about improving road safety for the sake of the children, he has set up a Facebook page where he posts photos of motorists flouting parking laws outside schools.

Chris' aim is to prick the conscience of motorists who persistently park on restricted areas and he says since setting up the page over a year ago he has gained thousands of followers.

His answer to the solution is ticketing motorists who persistently flout the law.

"I would like to see them ticketed straight away. If you get a few of them then word will spread that they are not allowed to park there and it will stop," he says.

Bradford Council is already clamping down on drivers who flout the parking laws. Between January 1 2013 and December 31 2013 209 tickets were issued to those parking on zig zags outside primary and secondary schools within the city. 310 were issued between January 1 and December 31 2014 and 235 between January 1 and December 31 2015.

Coun Val Slater, Bradford Council's Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Transport, said: "We continue to work with Neighbourhood Policing Teams to challenge dangerous and thoughtless parking around schools in the district. It is very important that parents set a good example and park and drive responsibly.

"The safety of children around our schools is paramount and selfish and dangerous motorists are putting the lives of our children in danger on a daily basis. The zig-zag markings are there for a reason, children need to be able to see to cross the road and if cars are parked illegally, this blocks the view of on-coming traffic.

"Problematic school parking has been a persistent issue and we hope that by combining education, advice and enforcement we can make schools safer for children."

Chief Inspector Ian Gayles, Neighbourhoods lead at Bradford District Police, said: "Restricted areas outside schools are provided for safety reasons and should not be used for parking, or to pick up and drop off children, at any time.

"Illegal and inconsiderate parking, particularly outside schools, is a matter that we take seriously and could result in points on your licence.

"Police in Bradford District are committed to making the roads safer for all, and we will continue to work with partners to improve road safety and take action against those who break the law."

But it isn't just Bradford which is blighted by parking issues. Havering Council is preparing

a 'bespoke plan' for six schools. This includes designing a drop off/pick up point within school grounds where possible; closing roads around school at the start and end of the day and initiating a volunteer scheme where teachers, parents and residents would, after training, be empowered to issue parking tickets and organising a Public Space Protection Order under the Crime and Policing Act 2014 enforced by fixed CCTV cameras. This would allow for offending parents to be fined £100 for each offence and with the threat of criminal prosecution for three or more offences.

Anne-Marie O'Leary, Editor in Chief of the parenting website, Netmums, says: "Each school will have its own individual parking challenges...whether they are located in a busy built-up area, on a main road, have complaints from neighbours, lack of public transport serving the school area, etc, so its difficult to generalise and every school will have its own set of factors to consider. However, Child safety must always be the number one priority, so if parking restrictions outside schools are about helping children cross roads safely then there’s no way these should be disputed."