FIREFIGHTERS fear they could be delayed getting to an emergency because of parents parking their cars to pick up children from a nearby school.

The crew at Cricklade fire station say that parents who collect their children from St Sampson's Junior and Infants School in Bath Road have blocked routes to emergencies.

Now the fire brigade has written to the school highlighting the problem after it was hampered attending a road accident.

Junior School head teacher Michael Ferris said: "Most days there is no problem, however the fire station entrance is clearly marked with double yellow lines. Sometimes we have as many as 40 cars parked on the road outside the school.

"It is totally legal to park on the road but not at the fire station entrance. The problem is increased by cars parking to pick up infants and then waiting for the juniors.

"Ideally we would like more children to cycle and walk to school."

Firefighters have also been leaving notes on car windscreens and handing them directly to drivers highlighting the matter.

Drivers are also being asked not to use the fire station forecourt as a turning circle.

Margaret Griffiths, Cricklade town clerk, said: "This problem is of grave concern to the town council, particularly because the firefighters cannot get to emergencies in time and lives could be in danger. However it has not yet been debated at a council meeting."

Adam Butcher, a spokesman for Wiltshire County Council, said encouraging the children to walk or cycle to school would be the best option.

He said: "Enforcement by the police is not a long-term option. They cannot be there every day to stop drivers parking outside the fire station.

"What we can do is to help provide the resources to educate both parents and children and help to create a school travel plan."

Andrew Hargreaves, Wiltshire Fire Brigade spokesman, said: "Cricklade's fire service has managed to attend all the emergencies it has been called out to. The only way to sort out such a problem is to work in co-operation with the school and the community as a whole to rectify the situation."

Sergeant Andy Bridge, based at Cricklade Police Station, said: "We would ask people to be sensible and think twice before parking in front of the fire station. It is illegal, and if we see people doing it, we have the powers to have their vehicle removed at the owner's cost or to issue a ticket."

When the Evening Advertiser visited at the end of the school day on Wednesday, traffic was particularly band because of the heavy rain.

Sarah Green, 32, a housewife from Cricklade said: "Some days it is OK but because of the rain today everybody has driven.

"I agree with the fire brigade's letter it is quite clear the fire station needs to be kept free of obstruction.

"Space is limited so they need to encourage parents to walk more often, but on a rainy day like today that isn't going to happen."

Housewife Christine Hill, 29, from Cricklade, said: "The fire brigade's letter, it made a fair point. They need a big car park somewhere."

Bea Austen, 31, a sales assistant from Cricklade, said: "The fire brigade have got to have full access but many parents work full time so we only have time to come home and drive straight out to pick the children up."

Great Western Hospital nurse Marie Lynch, 43, from Cricklade, said: "People are sensible and while you can't always walk, what the fire brigade said was reasonable. But some parents probably haven't got a choice about whether they walk."

Joy Kendle, 47, is a childminder and often has to drop off five children at school. She said it was not always possible for parents to leave their cars at home.

She said: "It is difficult for mums with more than one child to walk to school.

"I have to walk five children sometimes and it would be more hazardous to make them walk along the pavement. Also it is not always possible in this weather, it is fine in the summer but you don't want children to get wet."