PARENTS picking up their youngsters from a York primary school could suffer three weeks of traffic chaos.

Resurfacing work is due to start in Oakdale Road, outside Lakeside Primary School, in Rawcliffe, on Monday, and is due to last for three weeks, until December 22.

The roadworks will be carried out between 9.15am and 4pm from Monday to Friday and will overlap with the start and end of the school day, which runs from 8.50am to 3.20pm.

As a precautionary measure, head teacher, Ros Latham, has warned the school's 390 pupils about the dangers of playing near hot tar while the work is being carried out.

A letter has been sent out to parents telling them the roadworks will be taking place.

It is anticipated that the work will progress in three phases.

The first will get under way on Monday, between the junction of Oakdale Road and Clifton Moorgate, and the main access leading to the school.

In the second phase, work will take place between the main access leading to the school and 20 metres south west of Bransholme Drive, with a diversionary route via Oakdale Road and Clifton Moorgate and vice versa.

The last phase will be between the junction of Oakdale Road with Clifton Moor Gate and 20 metres south west of Bransholme Drive with a diversionary route via Clifton Moorgate, Oakdale Road and vice versa.

In September last year, The Press reported that Lakeside was one of three York primary schools trying to stop youngsters walking out between parked cars.

The go-ahead was given to increase the school safety zones at Lakeside, Ralph Butterfield and Yearsley Grove schools.

After consultation with parents, teachers and governors, City of York Council gave the green light to a raft of measures including single, double yellow and zigzag lines to restrict parking near the schools. The move came after parents and other motorists raised concerns that youngsters were having to cross between parked cars when walking across the road at the start and end of the school day.

At Lakeside, Mrs Latham said increased double yellow lines were necessary to stop parents parking where they shouldn't when dropping off children at school.

She said at the time: "Some of our parents have been concerned about the parking, and we need the road clear so that children can feel safe while crossing."

* Walmer Carr, in Wigginton, will also be shut in phases from 9.15am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, for resurfacing over the same three weeks. Diversions are in place for the No1 bus.