"LAZY" parents on the school run are putting their children's lives at risk by parking illegally, says a Newport headteacher.

And parents are being asked to call the police if they spot others flouting the no-parking rule outside the school.

A letter has been sent to parents of children at Clytha Primary School, Newport, asking: "Are you allowing laziness to compromise the safety of children at our school?"

Parents taking their children to the Risca Road school ignore the zig-zag lines, says head teacher Ann Picton, which are there "to protect children".

She adds: "The zig-zag lines are designed to keep cars away from the kerb at a point where children leave the school premises. "Children cannot see over cars, they cannot judge speed."

Mrs Picton is now urging parents who spot somebody ignoring the zig-zag lines to call the police.

In the letter, she adds: "Give the police the registration number of the offending vehicle. Be prepared for parents to be rude or even offensive to you.

"The children, myself and the staff are very, very concerned."

Councillor Leslie Thomas, who has served the Allt-Yr-Yn community for more than 40 years, said the parking problem outside Clytha Primary was nothing new.

He said: "I have been aware of this for more than 12 years. We have put all the indicators on the road so it is up to drivers to be responsible.

"I support Mrs Picton's call for the police to be called more often. If there were a few prosecutions the message might be driven home.

"Some car owners are acting selfishly and causing a danger."

Mrs Picton said: "It's an accident waiting to happen. These lines are there for a purpose and the message has got to get to everyone.

"We have no crossing control - we haven't had any for about three years on Risca Road, which is tremendously busy.

"We need to high-profile the issue of children's safety again but it's only a minority of parents that are creating a problem."

Inspector Geoff Smith, of Newport Central police station, said Gwent Police supported the school's position.

He said: "Yellow zig-zag lines are a warning for motorists not to park.

"While it is not an endorsable offence to park on yellow zig-zags like it is for white zig-zags, we would consider anyone parking outside a school as committing an offence."