PARENTS have been warned to behave following complaints of them verbally abusing residents living next to a school as a parking war escalates.

Neighbours in Markhams Chase, Basildon, have grown increasingly frustrated with parents blocking their driveways and designated parking spaces during the Janet Duke school run.

The primary school has now decided to take matters into its own hands by sending a damning letter to parents. It comes after reports of rows breaking out in the street.

The letter reads: “We had an incident before school recently involving one of our parents verbally abusing a local resident wanting to get on to their own drive.

“This is not acceptable and extremely unfair.

“As you can imagine this is very frustrating for residents who live outside the school, just a little thought can easily stop this.”

Residents described the road as a “gauntlet” and urged parents to walk their children to school.

They also called for traffic calming measures after a speeding car smashed into a parked vehicle, taking out its whole door and narrowly missing the elderly female driver.

Stay-at-home mum Kelly Edwards, 29, who lives opposite the school, said: “The road is a nightmare. On Monday there was nowhere to park when I got home because someone was in my space. I parked in another space at the back of my house because I had to get inside for my three-year-old girl. Then I was given a parking ticket, I was only there for a moment.

“We also need speed bumps on the road - it’s a gauntlet. A woman was getting out of her car and another car smashed straight into her door. Luckily she was OK.”

Retired Ben Miller, 69, of Markham’s Chase, said he is often boxed in by parked parents.

He said: “I don’t use the car as much as I did, but when I want to go out early in the morning sometimes I just can’t move my car at all. It’s a headache.”