Residents and parents of schoolchildren are at loggerheads over parking during the morning rush hour.

In Glengall Road, Woodford Green, parents dropping their children at Woodford Green Preparatory School are parking on the yellow zigzag line and bringing traffic to a standstill, according to residents.

Stephen Pitt, of Glengall Road, also said the parents are preventing people from leaving their homes by parking outside garages.

The 52-year-old father-of-three, said the problem is “getting worse and worse”, and has launched a campaign.

He said: “Sensible parents seem to turn into some of the most selfish, inconsiderate people I’ve ever seen.”

He added: “The inconvenience is a major issue but more than anything it’s incredibly dangerous”.

Some parents agreed with him.

Danielle McKenzie, of Monkham Drive, said: “I feel that there is an accident waiting to happen.” And mum-of-three Louise Packer described it as “unacceptable”.

It seems the dilemma could be easily avoided, as the school is connected to the car park at Sir James Hawkey Hall, Broadmead Road.

But as it takes a few minutes longer to make drop- offs and parents would have to pay a small charge, the car park is not being used, according to Mr Pitt.

Headteacher Jacqueline Hart said: “We are sympathetic to both our parents and local residents about the problems of school traffic.

“We do ask our parents to respect highway regulations and consider pedestrians when manoeuvring their vehicles on the roads outside our school gates.”

Iain Duncan Smith, MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, has described the situation as “a nightmare”.

He said: “The road is far too narrow for cars to be parked all over it and some new parking restrictions – either a traffic warden or some mobile CCTV – need to be introduced.”

But Mr Pitt is determined to make changes in Glengall Road, by having a parking attendant visit regularly at peak times.

This will be discussed at the next area committee two meeting.