An engineer from the county council has made an initial visit to a school which fears that traffic conditions at peak times are becoming so dangerous that someone could be seriously injured.

Sauncey Wood primary school in Pickford Hill, Harpenden, has been in touch with county councillor David Williams about a situation described by Ray Clark, on behalf of the board of governors, as ‘unacceptably dangerous and difficult to manage’.

Cars park along both sides of the road opposite the school reducing Pickford Hill to a single line of traffic and as a result cars mount the pavement, park on pavements and block the road and driveways of residents.

Frequent near misses involving children both on the road and the pavement have been reported to the school.

Cllr Williams said this week that an engineer had visited the school earlier this month to conduct the first in a series of investigations into the problems.

He has been in touch with the governing body to offer guidance including the possibility of mobile civil enforcement officers, who operate across Harpenden, being used at the school.

A county council spokesperson said: “We would urge motorists to be aware of the likelihood that children will be crossing the road on their way to and from school and to drive accordingly and to be considerate of local residents and other drivers.”