PARENTS are being warned to stop parking outside a school before a child gets killed.

Banners have been put up outside Saltdean Primary to stop people parking dangerously and one states “Think before you park. You could endanger a child’s life”.

The village’s neighbourhood watch had the message printed after learning of growing concerns about parents parking on yellow lines and zig zag markings by the school gate in Chiltington Way.

Chairwoman Denise Clark said antisocial parking was an ongoing problem, especially since the school had expanded.

She said: “It’s general knowledge in our area that there have been problems with parking outside the school.

“We are there quite regularly because of our junior neighbourhood watch after-school club and we work closely with the school.

“Parents have been parking on the zig zags and yellow lines. It’s not deliberate – they can’t find a parking space, they are worrying about the children being late.

“The school has been concerned about it so we thought printing the banners was a way we could help raise awareness and educate people about children’s safety.

“Residents living near the school tell us it is terrible at pick-up times.

“Most of the parents are lovely, we really do not think it is deliberate. We hope it will just send a message to be more aware about where they are parking and of children crossing so we can avoid an accident happening.

“If they were able to leave a bit more time to get there they could park a street away – we don’t have many parking restrictions – and then it would be a little further to walk but it would be safer.”

The organisation used funds donated through the Proceeds of Crime Act from Sussex Police to pay for the banners.

Mrs Clark said: “Our former PCSO managed to secure around £500 in funding for us to use for promotional materials.

“We’ve used a portion of that money to print the banners which have our logo on so we can also inform people that we are looking out for the community.”

A letter sent from the school to the group thanking it for the banners said: “We very much appreciate this additional support in a time when school budgets are stretched to the maximum and there is little forthcoming from other agencies.

“The school is continuing to work on improving safe driving and parking around the school by regularly reminding parents about the expectations in the newsletters.

“We also remind parents they must call 101 and report any illegal parking and poor driving in the school area.”