Hundreds of concerned locals have signed a petition calling for a zebra crossing to be put in place outside of a school in Swanley.

Debbie Nicholls, a local resident whose child attends St Mary's Primary School in the area, started the petition as she felt that the road outside of the school was unsafe for children to cross.

"I feel that the area for children to cross outside of St Mary's School is unsafe and this needs assessing.

"I feel that it would be beneficial for all of the children at St Mary's and surrounding schools if there was a zebra crossing during peak times (8:30-9:00am and 3:00-3:30) to make the area a safer place," she said.

Ms Nicholls said that the lack of action from other parents about the need for a crossing prompted her to start the petition herself.

"Other residents are complaining that there’s no crossing but they weren't doing anything about it. So I thought that somebody had to do something," she said.

Ms Nicholls said that she has gotten support from the school and that a number of teachers have also signed the petition.

She also noted that people engaging in anti-social parking have contributed to the problem on the road leading up to the school.

"Where they park on both side of the pavements. I think it’s quite horrendous," she said.

Ms Nicholls has also got backing from the Mayor of Swanley, Councillor Lesley Dyball who noted that the volume of traffic has increased "dramatically" over the years.

"Unfortunately, the traffic calming measures which were installed many years ago, and the recent introduction of a 20mph speed limit do not slow the vehicles down and I regularly bring the issue of speeding vehicles to the attention of the police.

"At this current time there is not even a School Crossing Patrol outside St Mary’s Primary School, and the inconsiderate and dangerous parking of cars at school drop-off and pick-up times makes crossing St Mary’s Road extremely dangerous.

"A proper pedestrian crossing close to the school would certainly make St Mary’s Road much safer for everyone needing to cross the road."

Ms Nicholls plans to continue getting more signatures before taking further action.