A LEADING councillor has warned that a pupil could be seriously injured if parents and buses continue to park outside a Colne secondary school.

Coun Ann Kerrigan, executive member for community safety, warned action needed to be taken to prevent a serious accident taking place outside Pendle Secondary School.

The Horsfield ward councillor, whose children attend Fisher Moor, also in Gibfield Road, asked councillors to reinvestigate plans to implement waiting restrictions on the road after Pendle Secondary School said vehicles were obstructing emergency access. The school made its request after an ambulance struggled to negotiate the road.

Coun Kerrigan said: "I am afraid that one day there might be a serious accident because the children can't see the cars. I would like to see restrictions there's no reason why children can't be picked up from the Asda car park."

Waterside ward coun Lord Tony Greaves also raised concerns about the state of the bridge. He added: "It's full of pot holes. It's going to fall down at some stage if work is not carried out."

Highways officer Simon Bucknell said: "Emergency vehicle access and improving the public transport option for students at the school should be considered paramount."

Lancashire County Council chiefs will now consider the proposals to restrict parking from 3pm to 4pm Monday to Friday on the north easterly side of Gibfield Road.