A 20mph speed limit and tougher rules to stop dangerous drop-off manoeuvres by parents in Gargrave Road, Skipton, are to get priority scrutiny by transport chiefs.

It comes as over 1,000 people have petitioned for action from North Yorkshire County Council amidst fears that accidents are waiting to happen.

Over 3,000 youngsters using the road to get to the six schools in the area come in conflict every Monday to Friday with 40 buses, taxis and mini busses at the start and end of the school day.

Skipton High School headteacher, Jenn Plews, who detailed the petition to Craven area committee, on Thursday, said there had been four near-miss accidents reported this winter.

And she revealed how despite being the victim of abuse when pointing out poor parking to parents she was determined to continue to deliver a strong message about thoughtless parking.

She said: "I have become increasingly concerned about the congestion and volume of traffic.

"Parents are parking dangerously outside school to drop off and pick up children and the conflict on the road and neighbouring streets has at times been incredible disrespectful to local resident.

"Students are having near misses due to drivers pulling in where road markings clearly say they should not."

Particularly vulnerable were the 11 and 12 year-olds who were in many cases having to face the levels of traffic and in a bottle-neck they had not experienced before.

The school had launched an Urban 20 Campaign through the safety organisation BRAKE which involved working with the community in a bid to implement a 20 mph limit and to find sustainable solutions to school transport and parking.

Councillor Robert Heseltine doubted whether a 20mph restriction would be effective because the congestion alone in Gargrave Road kept the traffic speeds down but some action was needed to bring order to the chaos and to protect youngsters..

The committee agreed that the issue should be given priority and go before the county council executive committee for a decision on which was the most effective way forward.