YOUNGSTERS are having a brush with serious injury as they make their way to school each morning.

For wagon drivers who get dangerously close to narrow pavements are almost catching the children's lunch boxes as they speed past, concerned parents have warned.

Now Steven Woods and his wife Lynn are calling for immediate action to prevent what they describe as "a dreadful accident waiting to happen".

The couple, of Glenmore, Clayton-le-Woods, are heading a campaign for increased safety measures after witnessing a series of near-misses on the way to Clayton-le-Woods Primary, Back Lane.

They say traffic on busy Sheep Hill Lane has significantly increased in recent years and that many heavy goods vehicles are using the route as a short cut and to avoid a new weigh bridge.

Mrs Woods, who walks her daughters Katie, eight and Rebecca, seven, to and from the school, said: "I have seen heavy good vehicles almost catching lunch boxes they get so close the pavement as they hurtle past.

"It really is horrendous and something needs to be done. This amount of traffic should not be using a green belt residential area."

The pair say they are optimistic about action taking place after enlisting the help of local councillors in attempt to get weight and speed restrictions introduced.

Mr Woods added: "The footpath is so narrow at some points, the children have to walk in single file while traffic speeds past.

"We want a ban on all vehicles that don't need to use the road. The councillors are being supportive and have promised to look into it."

Bill Sloan, head teacher at Clayton-le-Woods CE, says she would like a speed limit 20mph introduced at school start and finishing times.

He added: "The problem seems to be connected with more HGVs coming through. I get the impression they are coming off the motorway early to avoid the next junction and the weigh bridge.

"What worries me is speeding HGVs haven't a hope of stopping at the bottom of the road.

"It would be ideal if traffic was made to slow down at certain times of the day."