A ‘frightened’ mum has launched a petition for a safer road crossing near an Ashford primary school following a near miss.

Clare Cooper, 33, from south Ashford, has launched the petition online to change crossing close to a bend to a zebra crossing and signs to warn about the approach to the junction.

Mrs Cooper, who lives in Cleves Way with her husband and four children said: “For four years we have used this crossing to John Wesley school with my four children and along with many other parents and general members of the public.

“I’m not exaggerating when I say you are literally dicing with death when you cross.

“Speeding drivers come out of nowhere and don’t stop when they see you.”

Mrs Cooper noted several safety problems including overgrown trees and shrubs on either side of the road, little signage notifying drivers of a school crossing and a ‘trip hazard’ manhole cover in the middle of the crossing.

She also said a small island in the middle of the crossing causes pedestrians to be back to back with the traffic if they have pushchairs with them.

Mrs Cooper and another parent, along with their children at the school between the ages of one and ten years old, were almost run over at the crossing on Wednesday November 9.

The group crossed safely to the middle island, and went to cross to the other side of the road once it was clear but were then almost hit by ‘a speeding transit van’.

The two mothers quickly brought the schoolchildren back to safety.

Mrs Cooper said: “My friend saved their lives. If he had not slammed on his breaks, she would have been hit by the van.

“We were all very shaken and now my children and I are even more frightened to cross here but it is our only route to school.”

Following the incident, Mrs Cooper started the petition to take to Kent County Council: “This has spurred me on to get something done.

“There had been no accidents but that shouldn’t need to happen before something changes.

“When this road was first built there were very few houses and schools in the area so over the years the council and KCC should have adapted these roads, crossings and speed limits.

“This isn’t just about speeding cars, it is about the negligence from the people involved in keeping our roads safe... no school signs, no speed signs, no crossing signs.

“It is ultimately a big health and safety issue, no different to ones in the work place, and they have failed."

Nearly 200 people have already signed the petition.

Mrs Cooper has also contacted MP Damian Green about the issue.

A Kent County Council spokesman said: “Whilst we sympathise with residents, we have to make tough decisions on where to improve traffic and road safety in local areas.

“We look at the sites most in need of improvement first, which have got the support of the whole community.

“We’re happy to consider all requests as long as residents go through the steps outlined on www.kent.gov.uk/highways”

To view the petition, click here.