IT IS not hard to sympathise with the residents of Fairisle Road, Malin Close and Orkney Close in Southampton.

Twice a day they are subjected to what can only be described as an invasion.

This is what has come to be known euphemistically as “the school run”.

The reality – as anyone who has gone near a school at the start or end of the day knows – is that there is very little “running” involved.

Instead there are mums and dads in a rush vying for that precious car parking space so they can drop off or pick up their little ones as quickly as possible.

The reasons why this has become normal practice are a debate for another time.

More urgently we have residents threatening direct action – vowing to blockade a public road against school run traffic – and that is an unacceptable state of affairs.

What is needed now is for city council chiefs, school bosses and local councillors to come together to thrash out a solution that will end the misery for people living near Fairisle Junior School.

Otherwise there are going to be some harsh lessons to learn.