PARENTS who turn into maniacs behind the wheel on the daily school run are ruining plans to improve education for their children, a councillor has claimed.

Coun Len Dickinson, a Hyndburn councillor, launched his broadside against parents of the borough after the council's development services committee turned down a planning application to transform a derelict

solicitor's office into a school for 30 Muslim girls.

The plan, for a property at the junction of Eagle Street and Cannon Street, was turned down on the grounds it would cause traffic chaos.

And Coun Dickinson stormed: "The problem isn't the school, it is the parents of this borough. They somehow go from being nice, caring people to absolute maniacs when they get behind the wheel.

"Right across this borough, parents are driving madly to get their children to school, parking where ever suits them and generally not caring for other people.

"No matter where a school is located there will be problems and this is no exception. It seems a crying shame such an excellent facility as this has had to be refused because of the problems we have encountered at other schools withbecause of parents and their cars.

"Perhaps parents should have a think before they drive again."

Coun Dickinson was the only councillor to support the plan. However, his outburst did win support of its own. Coun Janet Storey said: "Parents who only live minutes away from schools drop children off by car. They double park and generally create a real nuisance for other people.

"That is why we can't accept that plan for the school where it is. As much as we would like to, it would create too many traffic problems and that is something we have to consider."