POLICE were called following reports of parking problems at a school which has banned parents from its car park.

A spokesman for Dorchester Police said: "Police have received reports of inconsiderate parking in the area around Manor Park school, Dorchester, including vehicles parked across drop kerbs and on double yellow lines. 

"Cars parking inconsiderately cause visibility issues for pedestrians of all ages. Please consider how your parking decisions effect others."

It comes after parents were banned from parking on site when they drop off and pick up their children in a bid to promote social distancing, tackle congestion and improve air quality at the gates - to the dismay of nearby residents.

Manor Park First School has signed up to the School Streets scheme, run by Dorset Council, which prevents parents from driving their cars into the school car park.

The scheme, which is being supported by the Sustrans charity, means more space will be available on site for children and their families to socially distance at peak times, while encouraging more students to walk or cycle to school.

The scheme was launched when children returned to school and was welcomed by parents.

Rachel Pomfret, mother to year five pupil Darcy, said at he time: "I think the scheme is brilliant and they should have done it years ago. Parents used to sit in their cars with their exhausts running outside where the younger students were going inside which was horrible.

"It is a slight inconvenience not being able to park on site but give it a couple of weeks and it will just be the new normal."

Councillor Ray Bryan, portfolio holder for highways, travel and environment at Dorset Council, said: "The safety and wellbeing of school children and parents across Dorset will always be a key priority for the council, so this is a win/win for everybody involved.

"As we face a climate and ecological emergency and students return to school from lockdown, we need to be doing all we can to promote greener forms of transport, especially walking and cycling, to improve our environment and public health."

But residents have voiced fears that the moves will lead to more parents parking outside their homes.

Keith Taylor lives close to the school and he said he was worried that extra cars parking on the road would make it more dangerous for children crossing the street.  He claimed that, despite there being double yellow lines outside his house, some parents already parked on them while waiting for their children to finish school.

He added: "In the space of 20 minutes there have been 20 cars parked on the double yellow lines because people are too lazy to walk. It is ridiculous.

"Now that the school has introduced the new scheme this is only going to get worse. The lines are there for the safety of the kids but parents don't care."