LIVES are being put at risk by thoughtless drivers who double park in a narrow road outside their homes, residents claim.

They say emergency vehicles would have difficulty negotiating the narrow space down the centre of Rigby Lane in Aston Fields.

Others fear an accident is waiting to happen as they are forced to perform three-point turns simply to get in or out of their drives.

To add to their misery, with three schools in the vicinity, the lane is exceptionally busy in the mornings and afternoons with buses, delivery vehicles and parents ferrying youngsters to and fro.

They say the situation has become intolerable since yellow lines were painted on New Road last year. This has forced an ever increasing number of train commuters to seek alternative parking spaces on side roads.

A pay and display car park near the station is said to be inadequate.

Fed up resident Chris Pitt is one who spends considerable time manoeuvring his car in and out of his drive.

He said: "It has become a nightmare, and I believe it is only a matter of time before a serious accident happens. I have measured the distance between the two rows of parked vehicles, some of which are left there from 6am to 6pm, and I believe there is insufficient room for a fire engine to pass." He added there have been instances of vehicles being left for a week.

"I would like to see drivers use common sense and park on just one side of the road, he added."

One of two district councillors for the area, Caroline Spencer (Con-Slideslow), herself a resident in Aston Fields, agreed the problem of side road parking is worse since restrictions had been imposed in New Road. "The district council appreciates the problem and an attempt is being made to provide a temporary car park at one of three local sites which have been identified.

"Talks are ongoing, but the one most favoured is the car park at the social club in Stoke Road which has provision for 100 vehicles," she said.