Car-sharing is being encouraged by a primary school near Helston after concerns were raised by a neighbouring resident over the safety of children due to the amount of vehicles.

Patricia Woodhouse, who lives opposite the school, said she feared it was an “accident waiting to happen” as vehicles lined the road outside Wendron School during drop off and pick up times.

Mrs Woodhouse said: “The situation is that parents and child minders are parking outside the school and dropping children off regardless of other road users.

“The road is not a very wide road and is used by tractors and large vans. Parents are getting the children out of cars on the road side, not the kerb side - this is an accident waiting to happen.”

She suggested that car-sharing could be a way forward, adding: “The publicity about the environment is ongoing. When you see the number of single adults bringing their own child to school this must add to the pollution that we are warned about.”

Headteacher Paul Hunkin said that due to the school’s rural location, nearly all the pupils had to be brought to school via private vehicles.

“This inevitably causes more traffic at dropping-off time in the morning and home-time, and occasionally some congestion – as is the case for the majority of school across Cornwall,” he said.

“At Wendron, the parents are fortunate in having the school playground to park in whilst dropping-off their children or waiting to collect their children after school, and this ensures that many of the vehicles are removed from the adjacent roads at these times.”

Mr Hunkin said he would be “more than happy” to use the school newsletter to promote car-sharing and to remind parents and children to be mindful of the hazards of parking in the adjacent roads.

“Road safety messages are a part of our planned school curriculum as is the importance of caring for our environment,” he added.