A PETITION signed by hundreds of parents and teachers callling for a pedestrian crossing near two York schools has been handed over to highway chiefs.

Petition organisers are concerned a child will be killed unless a safer crossing is provided near St Oswald's Primary and Fulford schools.

More than 560 people backed the call to urgently improve road safety, including 97 parents who walk along Heslington Lane each day and 48 teachers.

Petition organiser and parent Helen Adcock was inspired to start the campaign after a schoolgirl was hit by a car last month - the latest in a string of incidents.

She said it was unacceptable that children and parents had to rely on a raised speed table painted red, flanked by parking spaces, to cross the busy road.

The last lollipop lady quit the post after only six months due to the stress of having to deal with abusive drivers and it is proving hard to find a replacement, despite an appeal in the Evening Press and a banner advertisement outside St Oswald's.

The local authority has said in the past that any new crossing would be part of a planned private finance initiative to rebuild St Oswald's Primary and a travel plan was being created.

Mrs Adcock, said the petition was handed to Peter Zanzottera, road safety officer for the city council, at last week's Fulford Parish Council meeting.

She said: "There were certainly no promises made but I am hopeful.

"He said he would like to see the street reviewed in the next financial year."

Mrs Adcock said the city council was also planning to consult residents about moving a bus stop in Heslington Lane, to improve visibility for drivers and pedestrians.

The next step would be to organise an informal meeting between the schools and councils to discuss possible safety improvments, said Mrs Adcock.

Updated: 10:14 Monday, February 14, 2005