“IT will be a child someday - and it will be too late to be sorry.”

That was the stark warning message issued by a Bradford headteacher after a school crossing patrol warden was “knocked over” while on duty.

It happened on the day pupils at Wibsey Primary School broke up for half term last Friday.

At around 8.45am, Lynne Ball was struck on North Road as she was crossing over to go help a set of nursery children.

The incident prompted headteacher Nigel Cooper to stage a strongly-worded written intervention.

In a newsletter to parents and carers, he hit out at “extreme verbal abuse” volleyed at traffic wardens and police staff.

Mr Cooper went to on to suggest that should someone be killed that “it will be on your heads”.

West Yorkshire Police (WYP) confirmed that an investigation into the collision is ongoing.

Mr Cooper wrote in his newsletter: “This morning our crossing patrol Mrs Ball was knocked over by a car whilst on duty outside school.

"This lady works to keep your children safe day in, day out. Thankfully no serious damage was done.

"I do not know how many times I must say on this subject that basic road safety is your responsibility as adults, parents/carers and a very small minority are putting lives in danger.

"School can only support as best we can. WE ARE LEGALLY NOT ALLOWED to direct traffic, enforce restrictions or sadly, issue fines.

"Myself and other senior leaders are happy to be at the gates and out on the street trying to encourage safe parking, driving and behaviour, but we are not parking wardens or police officers. We have no jurisdiction.

“We do get regular abuse from the minority and I have heard the way some use the same extreme verbal abuse to traffic wardens and PCSOs, often in front of children.

"We can only rely on the common sense of our community beyond the school gates to do the right thing.

"I can’t say bluntly enough—it will be a child someday and it will be too late to be sorry. Email, phone, write to your MPs and councillors to have our road changed to a 20mph zone, add extra warden services (or let school pay for them as I have offered), increase safety measures and improve alternative parking e.g the fairground.

"To the minority who think the rules don’t or shouldn’t apply, this morning’s driver will be prosecuted, we are lucky there hasn’t been a death and it will be on your heads if anything does happen in the future.”

Inspector Andy Thornton, of the Bradford South Neighbourhood Policing Team, said officers are aware of road safety issues around the school, particularly at busy times of day.

A separate letter sent out by the primary school, on behalf of Bradford Council and WYP, said that complaints about inconsiderate and dangerous parking around schools are regularly received.

“Examples include parking on pavements, causing obstructions, blocking driveways, parking on double yellow lines, parking where there are double white lines in the centre of the road, and allowing children to exit vehicles whilst stopped on School Keep Clear ‘zigzags’ or in queuing traffic,” it says.

“There have even been instances of abusive and threatening behaviour by parents and carers. This behaviour and standard of driving and parking are wholly unacceptable and most importantly put your children’s safety at risk.”

The letter urges people to keep the school keep clear marking (zig zags) clear; ensure pavements, driveways and pedestrian access points are kept clear; ensure emergency vehicles would be able to get past if needed; adhere to local parking restrictions; turn off your engine when parked as engines left idling contribute to air pollution; behave in a manner than is respectful towards others – including pedestrians and local residents; park further away from school if at all possible.”

“Drivers committing offences place themselves at risk of being prosecuted/issued with tickets by council wardens and or the police. More importantly, inconsiderate and dangerous parking outside schools puts lives at risk.

"Would you want the death or serious injury of a child on your conscience?”