A WARNING has been issued that there is a " very real danger" of a child being killed or injured by drivers going the wrong way down a one-way street.

Concerns have been raised after reports of drivers who are not prepared to wait in the long queue to exit Sully Road onto Redlands Road, taking their cars down the one way system in Norris Close which connects the two roads near Ysgol Pen y Garth.

There are four schools along Sully Road including Ysgol Pen y Garth, St Cyres, Ysgol y Deri and St Joseph's Primary School.

Ioan Jones, who lives in the town centre and whose child attends Ysgol Pen y Garth, has expressed his fears that the situation is an accident waiting to happen.

Mr Jones says it has been happening every morning over the past week or so with dozens of drivers cutting through in a situation that has got "significantly worse."

"We don't want to see a fatality or an injury," he said.

Mr Jones said he doesn't think the issue is a high priority at the moment but said "it will be if someone is run over or killed."

"Some of the drivers are doing the wrong thing and making a poor choice," he added. "They occasionally meet oncoming traffic or come up behind parents who are crossing the road with their children and who are not expecting vehicles to approach them from a no-entry direction."

He also said that because there are a number of overgrown brambles on the pavement, pedestrians sometimes have to walk in the road to get round them.

He said a number of Ysgol Pen y Garth, St Cyres and Ysgol y Deri parents have been taking photos and sending them into police but nothing has yet stopped the "continuing disregard" for road and pedestrian safety.

Emma Healy has been campaigning against the offending.

She said: "They are putting children's lives at risk. It is an accident waiting to happen.

"I want something done before it is too late."

A spokesman for South Wales Police said: "We concerned at the reckless and irresponsible behaviour of some motorists who deliberately contravene a one way street in Norris Close, Penarth on a daily basis.

"Ysgol Pen Y Garth primary school is next to Norris Close and parents with children attending the school are very concerned that a serious accident might occur during school drop off times that they have been taking the numbers of vehicles flaunting the law and passing them on to the police.

"It is quite obvious some motorists are trying to take a short cut to avoid queuing along Sully Road as they try to join Redlands Road.

"We will be taking positive action and stepping up the police patrols and will prosecute any offending motorists who will face a fixed penalty fine which also carries three points.

"In more serious cases where there is an offence of careless driving the offending motorist will be reported and summonsed to court.

"This type of irresponsible and illegal motoring is extremely dangerous and given the close proximity of a primary school it puts children’s safety at great risk.

"This type of inconsiderate and illegal motoring will not be tolerated."

Cllr Geoff Cox, Vale of Glamorgan Council cabinet member for neighbourhood services and transport confirmed that the council is aware of the problem and has been liaising with the school and the police in an effort to resolve it.

"Text messages have been sent to parents discouraging them from behaving in this way and the police have been asked to attend at peak times to address the issue," he said. "Signs around the area clearly indicate that a one-way system is in operation and that has been implemented for good reason.

"There is the very real risk that a child could be injured or even killed by vehicles travelling in the wrong direction."

He encouraged anyone who sees drivers breaking the law to send footage to Operation Snap - an online method of reporting poor driving or road offences.

He said: "Those witnessing this reckless and dangerous behaviour are asked to film such instances and send the footage to Operation Snap by uploading it at www.south-wales.police.uk/en/newsroom/operation-snap.

"Anyone found guilty of committing an offence could be issued with a fixed penalty notice or prosecuted on the grounds of dangerous driving.”