PARENTS and school staff have hit out at the failure to close a road in Ramsbottom hit by ice — which caused a number of near-misses.

They say the safety of schoolchildren was put at risk as they walked to Emmanuel Holcombe Primary School on Tuesday morning via Ramson’s Rake — a sloping, bending road with no pavements.

The road was covered in ice, causing some vehicles to slip and slide near to children and their parents.

In the past, Bury Council has enforced an emergency closure of the road when icy conditions have prevailed.

Parents and staff said they should have done so again.

Headteacher Ellie Lorenzo said on Tuesday: “I am extremely angry and distressed that, once again, Bury Council has failed to close Rawson’s Rake.

“I have very distressed parents and children this morning.

“One parent has literally flung her child into the wall to protect her as a vehicle span out of control and smashed into the wall.

“The Rake needs to be closed as soon as adverse weather conditions hit Holcombe village.”

Lysha Holmes, who has two young daughters at the school, has started a petition calling for more action, which 50 parents have already signed.

She said: “On Tuesday, drivers risked their own lives and more importantly, those of innocent schoolchildren and their parents. I am exasperated by the lack of planning by Bury Council.

"The road is never gritted as it is not classed as a main thoroughfare. However, it is a rabbit run for people from Holcombe Brook and Helmshore.”

Her husband, Matt Holmes, added: “The road has been in a terrible state for years in the winter. Driving down it is like using a toboggan.

“Even at 5mph, a car lost control and was bouncing into walls.

“If the council doesn’t do something soon, someone will be paralysed or killed on this road.”

A Bury Council spokesman said it would be impractical to close the road during normal winter conditions and guidelines stated action should be taken when a route is unusually dangerous.

He added: “We also need to be mindful of the access needs of those who live in the properties located off the road.

“Previously, we introduced an emergency road closure when the road surface was totally impassable due to sheet ice, and we would look to do the same should exceptional circumstances recur in the future.”