A RUDHEATH woman says she has been physically and verbally abused by people, who are parking across her driveway before collecting their children from school.

Hazel Stephens had to climb over a neighbour's fence to get out of her house in East Avenue.

Now she is threatening to padlock a back gate leading to Rudheath Primary School to force pupils and their parents to use the front. Hazel said there were problems in the morning and in the afternoon with people parking on her path and across the driveway ,meaning she couldn't get in or out.

She said: "It is ridiculous.

"I have phoned the police countless times.

"Once I was assaulted by a woman who parked across my driveway.

"They had parked so close to my front gate that I had to get a neighbour to help me climb over a fence to get out.

"When I came back, she was there and I asked her not to park so close to my front gate.

"She started pushing me and became verbally abusive.

"She then grabbed me and pushed me through the hedge."

Hazel said she has spoken to Rudheath Primary School, which has sent letters to parents asking them to park more considerately, but nothing has changed.

Her house is at the back of the school close to a gate, which is used by pupils for access.

She added: "I will padlock the gate unless something changes."

vkandel@guardiangrp.co.uk