Police are getting tough with parents who persist in flouting the no parking zigzag lines in front of schools to drop off their children.

Selfish parents face getting a fixed penalty £20 ticket or even prosecution for wilful obstruction at Parkwood Primary School in St Paul's Road, Keighley.

Governors and staff have launched a campaign to encourage parents not to drop off their children directly outside school on the yellow lines.

And Keighley Police Traffic Sergeant Richard Czornowol has warned parents they could face a fine if they don't listen to the message.

"We have already issued five fixed penalty tickets at Nesfield School in Keighley to people who stopped on the zigzag line and we will do the same at Parkwood," he said.

Sergeant Czornowol has produced two warning signs which are being used outside schools in Keighley urging mums and dads not to stop in front of school gates.

The A-frame sign, which stands on the pavement, warns them that parking there could cost a child its life.

Head teacher, Sue Hardcastle said: "Police warnings are helpful but if people persist in parking in front of the school entrance they might have to get tougher and start prosecuting.

"The school is located on a very busy road and child safety must be paramount. We must get the support of the local community, only through their help can we have safe routes for our children."

The school campaign also involves a call by staff and governors for someone from the community to take on the lollipop crossing patrol job at the nearby junction of Park Lane and Parkwood Street.

"Despite advertising in the press, we have no response to the vacancy and we are asking the community to please help by taking some responsibility for the safety of our children."

In the last year, they have had two crossing controllers but there had been a number of weeks where the job was vacant. The last lollipop controller left the job this week.

It is important that a crossing patrol person is employed as soon as possible because Park Lane is very busy and has to be crossed by children coming to school from the Woodhouse estate, Mrs Hardcastle said.

Anyone wishing to sponsor another sign to warn parents about parking in front of schools in Keighley should contact Sergeant Czornowol on 01535 617047. They cost around £200.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.