CONCERNED parents are calling for action to stop drivers parking on a dangerous bend near a village school.

The call comes after a collision outside Earls Colne Primary two weeks ago.

Parents say near misses are frequent and it is an “accident waiting to happen”.

Residents claim problems on the road are caused by parents and other road users parking on Church Hill, near the junction with Park Lane.

The main road has a traffic island and sharp bends.

Residents claim matters are made worse by drivers on the school run parking their cars on the side of the road.

Earls Colne Parish Council has confirmed it is looking to get parking restrictions on the road.

A council spokesman said: “The parish council’s application for parking restrictions along Church Hill was approved by the North East Parking Partnership joint committee, who have confirmed that this will be implemented in spring or summer 2020, subject to meeting the legal requirements.”

One parent, who asked not to be named, said: “To be honest, this has been a long time coming. People are parking on the bend there and it’s dangerous.

“This is the first accident we’ve had, but there have been a lot of near misses. Because of the cars and it being on a bend, you can’t see and have to step out into the road.

“I’ve had a few near misses with my kids.

“A bus had to swerve on to the other side of the road to avoid an accident once. It’s a danger to both cars and people, and you put your lives in to your hands when you risk crossing – sooner or later there will be a child hurt.”

She added: “No one used to park there but then one person did and the floodgates opened. The parish council is working to put down some yellow lines but it’s not going to make any difference.

“They need some barriers or cones – something to actually stop people parking there. Now there has been an actual accident, they might start to take more notice.”

The North Essex Parking Partnership says it is working to resolve issues with parking near the school.

A spokesman said: “The issue of safety barriers is not one that we are able to address but may instead be a matter for the Local Highway Panel to examine.”