PARENTS who risk youngsters' lives by parking outside school gates will face hefty fines as police launch a crackdown on school-run chaos.

Police have put together an action plan designed to cut down on illegal and irresponsible parking outside school gates amid fears that children could be in danger.

Brunshaw Community Beat Manager PC Faizal Mahmed devised the plan after witnessing parents dropping children off outside Brunshaw Primary School, in Morse Street.

PC Mahmed said he had grown increasingly concerned about parents flouting traffic laws and parking on zig zag lines outside the school.

He said the problem was at best causing an obstruction and at worst could cause a serious accident.

PC Mahmed approached local councillor Don Hall who persuaded Burnley Council to put up signs which warn parents not to stop or park on the zig zags or risk a £30 fine or court summons.

The scheme could be rolled out to other schools if it proves a success in solving the problem.

PC Mahmed said: "Officers in Burnley have done a lot of work to reduce road casualties in Pennine Division. However, it is not our sole responsibility -- everybody has a part to play in reducing road traffic accidents and that includes parents.

"At the moment we are experiencing numerous problems with parents when they are dropping their children off at school and picking them up again in the afternoon.

"Parents pulling in on zig zag lines and parking directly outside school gates are putting children at risk.

"With this in mind, I would appeal to parents to put safety first when they are parking or we will have no choice but to issue a fixed penalty ticket."

The move has been backed by the school's headteacher, Neil Tranmer, who feared it was only a matter of time before there was an accident.

He said: "We have really tried to be very proactive with the parents and we have to thank most of them for co-operating. But there is an element causing the problems and one day, God forbid, there is going to be an accident there. We have already had a few near misses.

"We have been a pilot school for the Lancashire Road Safety project for the last five years and do all the right things in school to teach the children about road safety -- now we need the adults out of school to use a bit more common sense."

Mr Tranmer said the problems had become particularly acute over the last few years as the number of pupils at the school had increased.