A PARISH councillor has called for a rethink on parking outside schools after two Arriva buses collided on Phipps Lane in Burtonwood.

Two number 329 buses crashed near the junctions with Back Lane and Green Lane and Burtonwood Primary School around 9am last Monday morning.

It is thought that dry ice on the road may have been a factor in the accident.

But Clr John Higham believes the number of cars parked on the road at that time, when a lot of parents drop children off at school, may also have been to blame.

The Burtonwood and Winwick parish councillor said: "I know the police have warned motorists before about parking on Phipps Lane and some of them park right on the bend.

"Whether the bus has been coming from the village, started to overtake these cars and the other has come the other way and not stopped in time I don't know, but the parents have not heeded these warnings.

However, the councillor does not think that parents are soley responsible.

He said: "I don't honestly think that the people who go to that school in cars are just housewives on their way to the shops.

"I think they are working mums who drop their kids off on the way to work.

"I think most mums would walk with their children if they could and they have my sympathy.

"Years ago the council should have put lay-bys in so the cars could park."

He added: "Burtonwood Primary has a massive playing field. So why couldn't they have taken six foot of the edge all around to provide parking? These problems have to be tackled."

A spokesman for Arriva confirmed the incident took place addng: "There were no reports of serious injuries, although the driver and three other passengers were taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.

"All remaining passengers were safely transferred on to other buses.

"At the moment we are not entirely clear on the cause of the incident, although it is believed that the early morning icy road conditions were a significant factor."