Parents are stepping up their campaign for a safe route to their children's new school site.

And they said last week's Walk To School Week highlighted their fears that pupils at Church Primary School in Market Street, Thornton, will be put in danger next year when the school is moved to the Leaventhorpe Middle School in Allerton, Bradford.

Headteacher Joyce Coyle said staff, governors and parents believed it could be the last year that many pupils were able to take part in the Walk To School Week because the new site is a mile away from where most pupils live in the centre of Thornton and there was no suitable route to walk there.

Bradford Council says it could cost about £100,000 to make a footpath across fields which divide the school and the village and the matter is under consideration.

Sue Gregson, who often walks to school with her seven-year-old daughter Jessica, and accompanied by her two-year-old daughter Merry and baby son Thomas, said action was needed to make the route safer for children.

"It's an enormous trail which is particularly difficult for parents with other small children," she said.

"I do have a car but I only like to use it on the days when I go to work. What we really need is a safe route because the main road is so busy."

She said a footpath might persuade parents to do the walk despite the distance involved.

"If Bradford Council put a proper safe path across the fields which join Thornton Road then most people would be happier, although it is still a long way.

"My toddler is going to have very strong walking muscles after going there and back a few times."

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "We are very much aware of the governors' and parents' concerns about the route to school in Leaventhorpe.

"Our engineers have been looking at a scheme to provide a footpath. It would cost about £100,000 to install and the matter is still under consideration."

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