A MUM is spearheading a campaign calling for safety measures to be installed on an “extremely busy” road outside a primary school.

Sarah Newman, 36, has launched a petition to have a permanent crossing outside Lawford Primary School and Little Pumpkins Nursery, in Long Road.

The mum-of-two said the road is an accident waiting to happen, especially in the afternoon as there is no crossing patrol to help children and their parents cross the extremely busy road.

Mrs Newman, of Merivale Road, launched the campaign after her three-year-old daughter Jessica and parents-in-law were involved in a near miss when they crossed the road for the 3pm nursery pick-up on October 4.

She said: “They waited at the side of the road and then two cars stopped for them to cross.

“They tried to cross and then another car decided to drive around the cars and nearly hit my family members.

“My family could have been involved in quite a serious accident and I just want to raise awareness of the state of the road.”

Mrs Newman said her family members were not hurt, but they were shaken up after the incident.

“There needs to be a proper crossing put in or at least the recruitment of a new lollipop lady in the afternoon as there is a school, nursery and garden centre nearby,”she added.

Mrs Newman’s youngest daughter Jessica attends the nursery and her eldest daughter Rosie, six, attends Lawford Primary School.

She said the incident could not be reported to Essex Police without dash-cam footage or a third party witness.

An Essex Highways spokesman said: “The Tendring Local Highway Panel is already progressing this issue.

“Initial study of the situation, called a ‘validation’, has found that there is justification for a crossing, so a proposal will now be put to the panel for funding for design work.

“The best way to keep in touch with progress is to please contact your local Essex County Councillor.”

Mrs Newman’s petition to Essex Highways has reached more than 250 signatures.

To sign the campaign or find out more visit 38degrees.org.uk and search Road Safety Measures For Long Road Lawford.