TEACHERS in Thurrock are being given the powers to issue parking tickets to parents who block roads outside their schools.

From this month, a pilot scheme will be launched at Tilbury Pioneer Academy and training given to members of staff.

The idea was set out by Councillor Jane Pothecary, in charge of public protection at the council, at a meeting this week.

She said: 'We will give appropriately trained members of the school community the power to issue fixed penalty notices to motorists flouting parking restrictions outside schools.

“Up until now, school enforcement had to be undertaken by Thurrock's small team of enforcement officers who had to spread their resources across all the schools in the borough.

“I hope that the daily enforcement the new pilot scheme we provide will be an effective deterrent. I hope in the future we will be able to roll it out to other schools.

She added: “We invited all schools in the borough to take part in the trial but Tilbury Pioneer Academy was the only school in the position to make the necessary time and effort.

“Should the trial be a success we do hope other schools will take up the opportunity at a later date and would like to see it at every school, but we have to work with the school to show them there is a benefit to them and the local community.”