The school places crisis has been blamed for traffic chaos at a primary school in Hounslow, which has left pupils fearing for their safety.

Youngsters are so concerned about congestion outside Hounslow Town Primary School, in Pears Road, they have organised their own petition calling for action before someone gets injured.

The situation has been blamed on the shortage of primary school places across the borough, with demand for places increasing by nearly 50 per cent to 4,561 a year over the last decade. This has led to rapid expansion at many schools, including Hounslow Town.

In the last two years, its capacity has rocketed from 589 to 750, and it is set to take in at least 60 extra pupils this September.

In 2011, 62 per cent of pupils lived within a half-mile radius; today that figure is just 20 per cent, with some children travelling from as far as Chiswick.

The result is huge pressure on the narrow residential road, just off Hounslow High Street, where the school is situated.

Staff and pupils want the council to allow parents to use the School Road car park just round the corner for free to drop their children off in the morning, when they claim it is usually empty, and collect them in the afternoon.

They have also demanded a pedestrian crossing so children do not have to take their lives in their hands by squeezing between parked cars to cross busy Pears Road.

Debbie Burdett, special needs coordinator at the school, said: "Because we've taken bulge classes, we have parents coming from Osterley, Brentford and even Chiswick, who need to come by car. It's so busy that we feel there's an accident waiting to happen."

The pupils themselves put together petitions, with one class writing: "There is too much traffic outside our school. The cars often block people from coming out of the school, and it is not safe having too many cars there."

It is not just pupils and staff who are concerned either. Keith Doherty, who lives in Pears Road and attended the school as a child, called drivers' behaviour 'chronic' and said a child was going to be hurt if something was not done.

A 20mph zone is to be introduced outside the school soon and council officers have suggested am enforcement 'blitz' to ensure drivers observe the zig-zag lines. They are also investigating the possibility of a crossing.

However, they have said allowing parents to use School Road car park for free was 'not feasible' because it would be difficult to monitor. A further report looking at potential solutions is due to be presented to councillors on the central Hounslow area forum.

Cllr Tom Bruce, cabinet member for education and HR at the council, said: "Demand for places at our primary schools is continuing to grow, and we have always tried to expand only in those places that are best able to accommodate extra pupils.

"We will continue to work with schools and colleagues across the council to manage the impacts of any expansions, so pupils are able to get the most out of their time in school."