Angry parents held a protest meeting to campaign for a school crossing before a child gets killed.

The meeting was held at Edward Feild School, in Bicester Road, Kidlington,yesterday afternoon to try and get urgent action taken to protect pupils.

The primary school lost its lollipop lady about five weeks ago after she handed her notice in claiming the road was too dangerous to patrol.Parents said cars roared through at speed, unaware children were crossing, and then swerved round pupils rather than stopping. Many drivers used the route as a short cut to Kidlington. Campaign organiser Jane Brodie, of Queens Avenue, Kidlington, said the post was advertised once and the county council said one of the parents should volunteer.

Mrs Brodie, whose six-year-old son Thomas is a pupil at the school, said parents now wanted a permanent crossing outside the school.

A petition was circulated at the meeting and will be presented later to County Hall bosses.

Mrs Brodie, 30, said: "Does there have to be a serious accident before something happens? It has got worse and worse. Cars are driving very fast and they are not aware it is a school crossing because there are no lights and no lollipop lady." A spokesman from Oxfordshire County Council said there was a shortage of lollipop men and women in the county. She said each request for road safety measures was judged on its own merits.

Story date: Saturday 22 May

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