PARENTS are pushing for a pelican crossing outside Brockenhurst Primary School after claims that the £50,000 road safety zone installed just months ago is not up to the job.

The new Sway Road safety zone was the scene of a collision between two moped riders in October, and parents - whose children witnessed the accident as they waited to cross to school - were quick to demand improvements.

The safety zone - built after nearly four years of campaigning - consists of a crossing marked by bollards and special kerbstones, with flashing beacons which can be switched on at school-run time.

But after the October incident and a few months of testing the effectiveness of the zone, parents say a pelican crossing with button-controlled lights to stop traffic is the only safe answer.

Brockenhurst businessman David Bennett described the present crossing as "poorly designed and implemented" .

Parish council chairman John Korbey said: "The crossing is done, the money spent, but it has not improved safety for our children."

Parish councillor and chairman of school governors Nina Ball said: "All interested parties have had a recent meeting and agreed we must push for a pelican crossing.

"Our county councillor, Ken Thornber, supports the idea but he says another traffic survey will need to be carried out in Sway Road. It's due to take place next month December and I hope it will confirm our need."

She told a meeting of Brockenhurst parish council that the school had succeeded in finding three lollipop persons to make crossing the road safer for its 206 pupils.

"We may have three trained crossing personnel but that doesn't stop us needing a pelican," she said.