A COUNCIL has been accused of not pulling its finger out after calls for a zebra crossing to be installed outside a village school have fallen on deaf ears.

There have been repeated calls for Durham County Council to install a crossing to reduce the danger for pupils at the primary school at Cockfield near Barnard Castle, County Durham.

Parents fears have grown in recent months after a crossing attendant, who had operated in the area, left and was not replaced.

They recently appealed for help from Helen Goodman, MP for Bishop Auckland, who responded by visiting the village and spending some time studying the busy road and its traffic flow.

She has now pledged her full support for a crossing - and John Priestley, the local member for the county council, said he would also do all he could to have one approved.

Ms Goodman declared: "This is yet another disaster waiting to happen because Durham County Council will not pull their finger out. I am appalled at the way they are handling this.

"The council appear totally insensitive to the needs of parents and children, and are relying instead on bureaucratic excuses to explain their inaction. I am really worried that they don't seem to care about my constituents' welfare."

Councillor Priestley, who is a member of Cockfield Parish Council and Teesdale District Council as well as the county authority, said: "I have always wanted a zebra crossing at the school as much as anyone, but it did not fit the criteria for one.

"But I have called for a new survey to be carried out. Once we have the full facts about the size of the road and the amount of traffic on it, I hope it will fit in with the formula so that a crossing can be allowed."

He added: "Our parish members have long agreed with parents that a safe crossing place is needed.

But you can't just put one anywhere you want. If we can now prove we fit the bill I'll push hard to get one installed urgently."

A county council spokesman said they had been unable to find a replacement crossing attendant.

A survey had shown that a relatively small number of children crossed the road, which carried a relatively small number of cars.

He added: "In such circumstances we would not feel it appropriate to install a zebra crossing. However, we will continue to seek to replace the school crossing patrol, and would be keen to hear from anyone willing to undertake this important role."

He pointed out that there has been complaints about cars being parked around the school area, and the council was trying to address the problem by working with the school to produce a travel plan.