AMBULANCES and fire engines could be prevented from getting to Bradford on Avon hospital in an emergency because of cars parked in the driveway.

Parents of children at the nearby Christ Church Primary School have been blocking the drive, parking there when dropping off and picking up youngsters.

Ed Brand, health and social care manager at the hospital, said: "There has been a problem with parents parking in the driveway. At times they have partially blocked access to the hospital. If there was an emergency ambulances and fire engines would not be able to get through."

The emergency services have joined the hospital in a plea to parents to be more considerate of the potential danger caused by careless parking.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Ambulance Service said: "We have experienced problems getting ambulances through at certain times of day.

"Luckily we have not had to deal with an emergency but there is no doubt those who limit access to a hospital have the potential to put lives at risk."

Station officer Graham Davies, a fire safety officer with Wiltshire Fire Brigade, said: "It is essential access is maintained for fire appliances particularly to a hospital which is a high-risk because of the lack of mobility of its occupants."

The hospital has been in negotiations with the school to try and resolve the problem and the school has agreed to support the hospital in introducing wheel clamping if parents do not take heed of warnings.

David Williams, chairman of governors at the school, said: "We are fully aware of the problems surrounding parking around the school.

"If all else fails the hospital has our full support in clamping offenders."

There have been parking problems at the Berryfield Road school for many years. It was built on a bend and the road running past it is only wide enough for two cars.

The road begins to get congested when there are just three or four cars parked outside, but there are over 400 pupils at the school.

As well as blocking the hospital drive there have been problems with cars blocking the road and parking in the driveways of houses.