PRIMARY school pupils are risking their lives every time they go to school as they cross one of the busiest roads in Blackburn.

Youngsters from Intack Primary School are having to negotiate the busy Whitebirk Road without a school patrol after the retirement of popular pensioner Stan Robertson.

Latest police statistics show that nearly half of all drivers exceed the speed limit on that road. Six children have been involved in accidents in the past three years and a 78-year-old woman was killed a year ago.

A relief warden was put in place yesterday morning but failed to turn up in the afternoon, leaving parents furious.

Headteacher David Crowther sent out a letter out to parents informing them it was likely no supervisor would be employed for four weeks and told them it was their responsibility to get their children safely across the road.

Former patrol man Mr Robertson said that he informed the school more than five weeks ago and accused bosses of dragging their feet.

The 70-year-old, who retired from ill-health, said: "They have had more than enough time to find my replacement.

"I offered to stay on voluntarily but they wouldn't allow it because I would not be insured.

"Cars come speeding down that road and I saw kids struggling to cross the road, when I was walking past on Monday.

"There should have been cover from day one.

"Those kids should not be left unattended on such a bad road."

Lancashire County Council, which provides wardens on behalf of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said a replacement had been found and was undergoing health and police checks before being installed.

After angry reactions from parents a temporary warden was deployed to the school yesterday.

But after herding the children across in the morning he failed to turn up in the afternoon.

Headteacher Mr Crowther said: "I have been making inquiries as to why there was no warden there in the afternoon and I was told it was down to availability.

"There should have been cover there but there wasn't.

"Some days there will be people there and some days there will not until the replacement starts, which we are very concerned about and not very happy with."

Ken Speak, contract manager for school crossings at Lancashire County Council, vowed the crossing would not be left unattended again.

He said: "I have spoken to the area organiser for that particular area and as far as we were both aware a warden should have been there. "

He added that the temporary warden was allocated the crossing after a parent complained.

He said: "There are 33 sites on Blackburn with Darwen and five vacancies. We have five deputies to cover for short-term absence and sickness, who don't usually cover for vacancies and two of those are fixed to one area."