CRICKLADE firefighters are urging drivers to park more considerately along Bath Road.

They fear thoughtless actions could prevent them being able to answer an emergency call.

Leading firefighter Rob Milican says he and his colleagues are concerned that people are using the fire station forecourt in Bath Road as a turning bay and parking on the yellow lines in front of it.

He said: "It is a bit of a difficult situation because we have both St Sampson's Junior School and St Sampson's Infant School situated directly opposite us and we only have one access in and out of the station.

"But we are finding that some parents are dropping their children off at school in the morning and then picking them back up again later and blocking the road.

"Because the station looks quiet most of the time people seem to think it's okay for them to park where they like.

"But if there was an emergency which we had to rush out to, thoughtless parking along the road could prevent the fire engine being able to get out of the station."

Mr Milican is appealing to parents to consider walking their children to school in the mornings instead of driving to help ease congestion along Bath Road, or to park further away.

"There are also a few small businesses situated further along Bath Road which sometimes adds to the problem because their staff and customers need to park along there," he said.

"What we are trying to do is get the message across to people that it could be their house fire or car accident that we are trying to get to, so we would ask them not to obstruct the entrance to the fire station or clog up the narrow road with cars."

Mike Ferris, headteacher at St Sampson's Junior School said: "In my opinion most parents are parking sensibly along Bath Road.

"But we are aware of the problems and both schools have addressed parents in a newsletter asking them to be careful of the parking restrictions and not to block the fire station entrance."