MOTORISTS who block roads outside city schools have been warned to stop in leaflets disguised as parking tickets, left on their windscreens.

Inconsiderate parents at Alvaston Infant and Junior schools were targeted yesterday on the first day of a city-wide clampdown.

Safety officers from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service joined with enforcement officers from Derby City Council to hand out the mock parking tickets during the school run.

Parent Christine Poole, whose son, Brandon Souden, is in year four at Alvaston Junior School, in Elvaston Lane, welcomed the move, saying some cars virtually made the street impassable because of how they were parked.

Mrs Poole, of Castle Croft, said: "It's nothing short of a shambles.

"I walk Brandon to school but most parents don't and the roads here are absolutely grid-locked as people just park where they want, as close to the schools as they can.

"It's a miracle no-one has been hit and badly hurt."

Her views were echoed by Sue Penglase, head teacher at Alvaston Junior School.

She said: "Unfortunately, it is the selfish minority who just park where they like, regardless of the zig-zags painted on the road outside the schools that are supposed to be a clear zone for traffic."

Jean Walden, head teacher at Alvaston Infant School, said the amount of traffic parked outside both schools was a big problem.

She said: "People park both sides of the road in the morning and between 3pm and 3.45pm in the afternoon, often blocking it to traffic.

"It's not through lack of being informed as we regularly send parents newsletters reminding them not to park there."

Traffic wardens can issue fines to motorists caught parking on the zig-zags.

Community safety officer Trish Arlott from Ascot Drive was among the people handing out the leaflets and said the exercise was to alert parents to the potential dangers.

She said: "This is an awareness campaign – not an enforcement campaign.

"Most parents do think about safety but there's always a small minority who ignore the road markings and park as close to the school as possible.

"This not only causes problems for other road users but can even endanger their own children as they weave in and out of other people's cars."

Councillor Paul Smith, chairman of Derbyshire Fire Authority, urged motorists to heed the warnings. He said: "A moment's thought about the safest place to park can prevent death or injury.

"It is also vitally important that the emergency services are not prevented from reaching their destination because of anti-social parking."