IT'S a new school term and with it come new hopes that parents will think about safety and choose better places to drop off and collect their children for school.

But at St Michael's Primary School in Somerville Road, Bournemouth, on Thursday morning some drivers pulled into the bus stop rather than park in recognised spaces.

Others stopped in the road, parallel to cars parked on the single yellow line, temporarily blocking traffic on the one-way system.

Five drivers spotted the Daily Echo photographer taking snaps of vehicles in the light drizzle and chose to drive on.

One mother tried to defend her actions by saying she had a parking permit for a nearby car park but as it was "pouring" she had chosen to stop outside the school.

The Echo's Parking Mad campaign started in June 2007.

It is aimed at preventing parents putting lives at risk by parking dangerously outside schools and it has the backing of parents, teachers, councillors, the police and MPs.

Last year pictures taken at St Michael's showed parents double parked, blocking the road and stopping in bus stops.

Headmaster Bob Kennedy said the school governors had done a lot of work in consultation with the council since the campaign started.

The single yellow line - which permits loading and dropping passengers but not waiting - is about to be replaced with a no-stopping zigzag outside the school entrance.

He said he had seen some improvement last week on parking but wet weather had meant more cars were again parking right outside the school gates.

Mr Kennedy praised the parking wardens and said the school now has cycle racks.

The council has introduced a free month-long trial for September to allow parents to park in Durley Road and West Hill car parks, with a small charge for a permit for school drop off and collection times.

Mr Kennedy said: "I have had a positive response from parents. I was outside the school last week.

"We are encouraging them to take up the scheme."

Mr Kennedy said he believed Parking Mad had made the point.

"There's really no need for congestion," he added.

A Bournemouth Borough Council spokeswoman said drivers would risk a penalty charge if they wait, park or even set down on the new zigzag during the times shown.