I AM rarely compelled to put pen to paper but the events of Monday, April 18 cannot slip by without comment.

Collecting my children from school, I was confronted by a party of adults, some holding helium-filled balloons, and a camera.

They were positioned in such a way that they were blocking the pathway, which is not wide and has limited visibility for oncoming traffic.

To collect my children, I either had to walk through this mele or cross a busy road without the aid of the school crossing patrol.

Some parents, understandably, decided to avoid the circus, resulting in people crossing at any point, or stepping into the road to evade the cameras.

Those who tried to get to the crossing patrol, found balloons emblazoned with a political advertisement thrust at their children, and were filmed without consent.

Some parents were separated from their children by people seemingly more intent on forcing a political handout upon them than ensuring the safety of the children.

The pathway outside the school is indeed a public highway and is open to use by anybody.

However, one has to question the ethics of any party which considers it acceptable to use a child's toy as part of their political campaign and utilise young children at such a time.

The end of the school day is fraught with hazards - children are excited and their attention is limited. To add to this by distracting them with balloons and blocking their path, is irresponsible at best.

We go to great lengths to instill a sense of danger into our children, complimented by a responsible school policy. What did our children learn from April 18?

1) You should never take anything from strangers, except parliamentary candidates bearing balloons.

2) You should always cross the road with the assistance of the crossing patrol, unless adults are blocking your path and will not move until you take the balloon.

3) People and their privacy should be respected, unless there is an election coming up, when anyone is fair game if it presents a photo opportunity.

I have no political axe to grind. All I care about is my children's right to free and safe passage to and from school, and their privacy.

Is it so much to ask from ANY of the political parties?

TERESA CHRISTOPHER

Snowdon Close

Kidderminster