PARENTS of an 11-year-old girl who was hit by a car outside her school are today calling for a zebra crossing to be put in place to prevent a child being killed.

Megan Whiting was injured after being hit by a car as she left school on a busy road with three schools in just 200 yards and used twice daily by more than 1,000 students.

One of the two lollipop wardens for the stretch has not been replaced due to a recruitment freeze, and the other is due to be axed in the summer as part of the cutbacks.

Now her parents are calling for a zebra crossing to be put in place on the street to protect youngsters in future.

Megan was leaving Orwell High in Maidstone Road, Felixstowe, when the accident happened – and had to be rushed to hospital with a cut and badly bruised foot.

“I have sat outside the school waiting to drop off my children and have seen numerous near misses,” said Megan’s dad Gareth Whiting.

“When the children are arriving and leaving the traffic is incredible and it isn’t all moving slowly.

“People park on the yellow lines and at junctions and parents are stepping out between parked cars.

“Something needs to be done before there is a very serious accident.”

Mr Whiting, 32, and his wife Kirsty, 27, of Tarn Hows Close, Old Felixstowe, have children Beth, seven, and Sam, five, at Maidstone Infants; Adam, eight, at Causton Junior; and Megan, 11, at Orwell High, all in Maidstone Road.

They also have a younger son Declan, two.

“I think a zebra crossing would completely stop the traffic and give the children and parents a really safe place to cross,” he said.

Mike Motteram, Suffolk County Council’s road safety manager, said: “We are deeply sorry to hear about this incident and wish Ms Whiting a speedy recovery.

“The safety of pupils going to and from school is an important issue which is why we support the police in their call on road users to drive carefully – especially near schools.

“The county council is fully aware of the concerns people have about the future of school crossing patrols.

“That’s why we’re making additional funding available to support school crossing patrols until the end of the summer term.

“We are currently in discussions with many schools, businesses and organisations about them funding and managing patrols where they feel there is a need locally. We will help schools and communities to maintain the role wherever possible.

“The county council will be issuing further detailed advice and information to schools in the very near future.”

? What do you think of the situation in Maidstone Road? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@evening star.co.uk