A school on a busy road in Nailsea is in urgent need of a crossing or a new lollipop lady to keep pupils safe.

North Somerset Times: St Francis Primary School, Nailsea need Loolipop Lady.St Francis Primary School, Nailsea need Loolipop Lady. (Image: Archant)

Teachers fear ‘an accident is waiting to happen’ outside St Francis Primary School, in Station Road, which is on a main route between Nailsea and Backwell.

The previous lollipop lady left nearly two years ago and despite a campaign by parents, nobody has stepped up to fill the role. The school also applied for a pedestrian crossing in 2012, but staff were told it did not fit the criteria.

Headteacher Caroline Hostein said: “It would be great if someone could take up our case and recognise we are on a busy road and we have lots of primary children crossing.

“We are all sitting her thinking it is an accident waiting to happen.”

A crossing was installed outside Golden Valley Primary School, on the same road, but it is also used by people accessing Scotch Horn.

The council confirmed St Francis does not fit the criteria because it is half the size of Golden Valley and fewer children walk to school.

Cllr Andy Cole said: “There’s currently a budget for lollipop people but that will finish in March so North Somerset hopes town councils and schools will take up the costs.

“Highways won’t pay for a crossing and the lollipop budget is going to run out. We are snookered.

“The budget cut is a disgrace, especially when we are dealing with children’s lives.”