RESIDENTS are campaigning to have a crossing installed at a busy Bournemouth junction fearing their children are risking their lives to cross the road to school.

Since February half term - when the existing lollipop lady was signed off work unwell - school children and residents have had no means of crossing Poole Lane in Kinson safely.

John Blackburn, a bus driver of South Kinson Drive, is father to six-year-old Max who goes to Kinson Primary School.

"I get really angry about the situation," he said. "There is no one there to assist the children. I even stepped forward to do it a couple of times but I got stopped because I didn't have the right safety equipment or training and I wasn't wearing a high-vis jacket. As a member of the public I had no right to stop traffic, I was told."

The 49-year-old added: "Children have just been missed by passing vehicles and at least one parent nearly got hit by a car.

"You have got juggernauts and all sorts of vehicles flying up the road from Wimborne Road. A few people stop but I would say 90 per cent of the vehicles come flying around that corner and they just don't bother to look. And the majority of them are taking their own children to school."

A spokesman for Bournemouth council said that they do employ relief school crossing patrols to cover absent members of staff but there is no relief available at present.

Mr Blackburn added: "I want them to put a crossing patrol back or, if they can't, put some form of temporary zebra crossing in place. At least people could stop the traffic.

"It is just a big accident waiting to happen and I don't want to be witness to it."

Tracy Miller, 46, works at the school and is also mother to three children. Her 10-year-old daughter and seven-year-old twin boys - one of whom is disabled - attend the primary school.

She said: "It is a dangerous road and not even bus drivers give way to the children.

"They know when the school rush hour is on. I have to keep hold of my kids' hands or they would be gone. We were told someone would be there this term but we have seen nothing at all.

"I just want my children to cross the road safely."