DANGEROUS parking outside schools in Burnley and Pendle will be recorded on video and may be used in court.

Parents are being urged to park safely as children return to school after the summer break or they could resort to videoing their bad motoring.

Police have sent a letter to head teachers asking them to pass on the message to parents who take their children to school in cars.

They say co-operation is preferable to financial penalties.

In an innovative move Pennine Road Safety Unit will use video recordings of problems outside schools which may be used to show the courts any incidents of bad or inconsiderate parking.

It will also enable fixed penalty tickets to be sent out after the event.

So if there is a line of vehicles causing problems, the drivers will not be able to simply drive off as they see the police officer or traffic warden approaching.

The first time they will be aware of the offence having been detected is when they receive notice by post that a fixed penalty fine has been imposed.

Sgt Mick Heyworth said parents should remember that it is their children who they are trying to keep safe.

Sgt Heyworth said complaints about parking and the general use of vehicles around schools was on the increase. He added: "Inconsiderate parking outside schools causes frustration, anger and may delay any emergency vehicles from attending incidents at the premises.

"Along with the letter to parents is a warning that inconsiderate drivers run the risk of receiving fixed penalty tickets or summonses for the offences they commit.''

Parents are also being urged to support the "walk to school days'' organised by Lancashire County Council.

Sgt Heyworth said if more parents could take the time to walk to school with their children the problem of vehicles outside schools would ease considerably.

He added: "If parents have to use their vehicles then remember considerate parking. Even if you have to walk a short distance it may stop a child being injured. Seat belts must also be worn.''

The letter heads are being asked to pass on to parents warns that police will be looking out for parking or waiting on zigzag lines; parking on double yellow lines; parking on corners or bends; parking at or near junctions; parking on pavements; causing an obstruction or obstructing the pavement.

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