A DAD is calling for action to be taken before there is a serious road accident at a school near Cockermouth.

Gareth Cardy's daughter attends Eaglesfield Paddle Primary School.

There is an ongoing problem with parking and access at the school, he said.

"There's a main road past the school. Some of the parents have to park on the other side and then run for it. They end up risking their lives trying to get the kids to school," he said.

"Then there is lots of parking down the side road, where cars can be travelling at 80mph past children. I was gobsmacked by some of the driving I have seen as children walk nearby.

"There was a car accident outside the school gate just before Christmas when a car was written off. There was a pregnant lady knocked down in the actual school car park last year."

He would like to see one of the school fields turned into a car park for 60 vehicles.

He has set up a crowdfunding page in the hope of raising enough money for fencing and to get a planning application done for change of the use of the field

"The existing car park for about 30 cars is so hectic. By creating a car park we would get all those cars off the road," he said.

"It's desperation really, the parents and school are desperate to do this before someone is killed. The present conditions are a genuine threat to life."

Mr Cardy, who works at Sellafield, is on the board of governor's safety committee.

"Car parking has come up as an issue several times. We got a working group together to see what we can come up with and where we can pull in favours," he said.

"If we raise enough money for fencing and to get planning application done for change of use of the field, we have a few people that can hopefully do stuff and help out in various ways.

"We'd like to hear from anyone who can help us in any way."

Mr Cardy is hoping to raise £5,000. To donate go to gogetfunding.com