Children living at Jamestown walk this road to Manorbier School

Children walking from Jameston, near Tenby, to Manorbier Primary School have to trek along a 60mph limit road which has no pavement or grass verge.

Campaigners say they fear there will be a serious accident following several near-misses.

Now some residents whose land borders the road say they would willingly donate a strip to Pembrokeshire council if the authority agreed to use it to create a footpath.

It is extremely dangerous, especially as part of the road is very narrow at one point Parent Louise Harvey

The council has commissioned a study to assess whether such a scheme is feasible and its findings are expected shortly.

It says it plans to submi a bid for funding to the Welsh Assembly Government's Safe Routes To Schools programme.

Tony Wales is one of the landowners who has made the offer.

He said: "It is a situation that really is an accident waiting to happen and I just hope it does not need a child or parent knocked down before someone sits up and takes notice.

"We are fortunate that we have not had any accidents but there have been so many near-misses it is not true.

"One child had their satchel clipped by the wing mirror of a car as it was passing.

Speed limit

"If the council does go down the road of waiting for the Safe Routes To Schools programme they will be lucky if they get the money by 2005 or 2006.

"I just find the whole thing frustrating and ridiculous."

Around eight children make the walk each day and a further two or three cycle.

Pembrokeshire council is looking at introducing a community bus service along this stretch of road to save the youngsters from having to walk.

Mr Wales said: "We would welcome anything that got the kids off the road but the long-term answer is to provide a foot link.

"One easy solution to the dangers would be to have a 30mph or 40mph temporary speed limit on the road until the footpath is open."

Funding

Louise Harvey regularly walks with her three children to the school.

She said: "It is extremely dangerous, especially as part of the road is very narrow at one point.

"It's only a stretch of about a mile, so I can't see why they don't make a 30mph speed limit."

A council spokesman said it was waiting for the results of the feasibility study.

"This study is due for completion at the end of the month," he said.