A head teacher has warned of the “serious risk” to pupils at a busy three-way junction due to “high volumes of cars” mounting a kerb.

Daniel Quinn, of Dover Grammar School for Girls, sent out a letter amid concerns about children being forced to walk in the road.

He says pupils attending nearby the Charlton C of E Primary School and St Edmund’s RC School are also affected.

Mr Quinn says the issue arises when cars sprawl onto the pavement at Old Charlton Road and Connaught Road, which links with Barton Road.

He is now asking parent drivers to pick up their children hundreds of yards away at a supermarket car park.

“The traffic on this junction, especially at the end of the school day, remains a serious risk for students,” he wrote.

“Due to the high volumes of cars mounting the kerb on Old Charlton Road, and at the bottom of Connaught Hill, students from all three schools are struggling to access the path, meaning more are having to walk in the road.

“I hope you share our concern for the potential impact this could have.

“To support our efforts in keeping students from all three schools safe, I would ask that you arrange an alternative collection point for your daughter or son.”

He suggested that could be the nearby giant car park for Asda and Morrisons at Charlton Green.

Mr Quinn said he has also been in contact with Kent County Council about the problem.

His school and Charlton Primary are on the busy A256 Barton Road/Frith Road one-way route.

St Edmund's is further up the hill on the narrow Old Charlton Road.

Charlton School confirmed to KentOnline that it has not had any accidents involving its pupils.

But deputy head teacher Amy Moat added: “Safeguarding is of paramount importance and we teach road safety as part of our curriculum.

“We will remain vigilant to the dangers of our school being adjacent to a main road.”

In a statement, a spokesman for Dover District Council said it “understands people’s concerns about the dangers of irresponsible parking”.

“We continue to work hard to enforce parking regulations around the district, including around the Old Charlton Road area,” he said.

“We will continue to monitor the area. We would note that if vehicles are causing an obstruction, this would be a matter for the police.”

Dover Grammar School for Girls and St Edmund’s RC School have also been contacted for further comment.