ANGRY residents on a housing estate in Wantage have spoken out against parking mayhem as parents drop off and pick up their children at Stockham Primary School.

They have said that a stream of cars block the narrow roads on Stockham Park estate.

According to frustrated neighbours, parents park on nearby verges, or wherever they can - including straddling double-yellow lines and zig-zag markings outside the school.

John Yearley, a retired safety manager with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), who lives in Stockham Park, said the biggest problem was when drivers parked near the T-junction outside the school.

He said: "Not only do you have to approach this junction on the wrong side of the road, you cannot see around the corner because of the inconsiderate parking, and have to come out with vehicles totally blocking your view.

"Even if there were only four or five cars parked there, it would be highly dangerous."

Bob Turner, of Stockham Way, said the congestion in local roads near the school was reaching intolerable levels. "Sooner or later there is going to be an accident - it's just waiting to happen," he said.

Headmistress, Jill Dovey-Bridgeman, said the school was aware of the problem, and was trying to do something about it, having received a visit from the police following complaints about parking from local residents.

"I've spoken to the police about this, and apparently zig-zags outside schools are not enforceable, unlike the ones next to pedestrian crossings, which are.

"They are only advisory, but we're told they become enforceable if there is a line through them, but it's down to money."

Mrs Dovey-Bridgeman, added: "I have people from villages outside the town, as well as parents from the Springfield Road area on the other side of town, who have to bring their children to school by car.

"However, I do have people driving here from very close by.

"I am putting this in newsletters, but it doesn't seem to have any effect.

The school is working with Oxfordshire County Council to put together a travel plan through the Better Ways to School scheme.

The county's transport planner, Mark Sutherland, said: "We have received one complaint. As a result of this we want to speak to the school to get their view on problems and possible solutions.

Any further action would flow from that discussion."