A TRAGEDY waiting to happen is how Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans has described a school crossing situation in Simonstone.

And Mr Evans has called for Lancashire County Council to "pull its finger out" and get a crossing assistant for youngsters going to school across the A671 Whalley Road in the village.

Mr Evans was touring the area on a mobile surgery programme and he stopped off in Simonstone to see the crossing situation which angry local parents say could cost lives. He said: "I stood at the side of the road with some mums for more than five minutes and I was appalled that children as young as five and six have to cross this road without the assistance of a patrol officer to help.

"The road attracts thousands of vehicles every day, many are heavy goods vehicles, which means it is dangerous to even stand at the kerbside.

"This is a tragedy waiting to happen as it is a dangerous road for parents to cross, let alone their children.

"The school has just come back from its summer holiday so Lancashire County Council needs to act quickly to allay the fears of parents and prevent a fatality on the road."

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