Primary school children have taken to the streets to protest about the school run after dangerous parking and driving by parents.

Pupils at Fleetdown Primary Academy in Dartford wore high-vis jackets and were armed with hand-written signs during the morning rush-hour, demanding more care be taken along the busy road.

Head teacher Alice Harrington explained: "It is a small minority of our parents who are parking on the dropped kerbs, on the double yellow lines and the zig-zags, making it dangerous for our children. It blocks their vision and blocks the road.

"Thankfully we have not had an incident but we have had some moments that have been concerning. It is quite scary and makes us very nervous as staff.

"We are teaching the children in school about road safety but we need all of our parents repeating the message to their children.

"It is just a minority but they are the parents that could really impact our children."

The school has sent letters and has posters hung outside the gates encouraging better road safety measures but say these are not being listened or adhered to by offending parents.

Ms Harrington added some parents are even stopping in the middle of the road to drop their children off as opposed to parking up safely.

The Year 6 prefects and senior members of staff were out along the main stretch of Lundale Road, Dartford where there are four entrances to the school on Monday with signs reading: "Please don't park on zig-zags", "I can't see when you park on the drop kerbs" and "Please cross with Travis", who is the school lollipop man.

They planned two demonstrations at the peak school run times from 8.15am to 9am and at 3pm to 3.30pm to try and drive their message home.

Ms Harrington added a large percentage of the school's community are vulnerable, which can be concerning due to the busy junctions.

She said: "Our children love to get involved. We like to give them a voice, they feel passionate about the road safety and a lot of them want to teach their younger siblings. We need this to have an impact."

Following the morning's protest, the teachers reported fewer offending cars, more people crossing the road at the assigned spot and many cars slowing down to read the signs and then acting.

Dianne Adair, a grandmother who suggested doing a demonstration, said: "It is the stupidity of some parents. The children have to cross through cars and how they can see? It just falls on deaf ears.

"It is not good enough. It is really dangerous."

Dianne, who lives on the estate near the school, added a lot of people do not cross using the school's lollipop man, Travis, and everyone should make the effort to do so to set an example.

She added she even crosses with Travis when she is not with her grandson or on the school run as it is safer on the busy, residential road, which can be often used as a cut-through to Darent Valley Hospital.

Lynne Peters, who also lives on the estate and walks her grandson to the school, said: "It is terrible up here especially in the afternoon. They do not seem to care how they abandon their cars.

"I have seen this get worse over the years."

Due to the school's new start times – which staggers drop-off times to reduce the number of people on the school site at any one time – the issue is said to have grown worse as it now spans a longer period.

But school leaders say they are hoping Monday's actions will see a significant change in attitudes.