A parent of the Broughty school presently without any crossing patrollers said today, however, she did not think the city council was doing enough to find adults to escort children across the road.

Eastern is one of four schools in Broughty Ferry, but its two patrollers are off ill, leaving up to 350 pupils to negotiate the busy junction of Queen Street, Monifieth Road and St Vincent Street without official supervision.

The patrollers are due to return on Tuesday, but the issue is of concern to the school community.

Councillor Webster said that as soon as he discovered the problem he contacted the education department.

“The person there dealing with patrollers said they have more difficulty recruiting suitable people for the job in Broughty Ferry than they have in any other part of the city.

“It seems to be a place where no one wants the job. I don’t know if it’s because people there don’t need the money or because it’s too restricting.

You have to be available at lunchtimes as well as in the morning and afternoon, and maybe retired people don’t want to give that kind of commitment.

“A couple of parents who contacted me said they would be able to help out — one occasionally and one part-time, so I’ve passed their names on to the education department.

“Whatever happens, I hope this problem can be solved as soon as possible in the interests of pupils’ safety.”

The parent who is able to help part-time, but who declined to be identified, said, “I would certainly help for part of the day.

“I can’t do any more than that because of my job. It is a very busy junction and I think having patrollers there should be a priority.

“We keep reading how well staffed Dundee City Council is supposed to be.

“Why can’t some of their people double up as crossing patrollers when there’s a shortage?

“I think the council should be doing more to help in this situation.”

The parent was aware of the idea raised in the Evening Telegraph that a solution may lie in dispensing with the need to find patrollers to work over lunchtimes.

The increase in children staying at school during lunchtimes has meant many patrollers are almost if not completely redundant during the middle of the day.

Today a spokesman for the council confirmed that the Eastern patrollers were due back after Monday’s public holiday, and added, “We appeal for people who want to become crossing patrollers to contact us on 01382 433611, because there is a shortage of patrollers in Dundee.”

A spokesman for Tayside Police said if they are told a school crossing site is to be unsupervised, they try to send a police officer to cover it first thing in the morning and after that the matter is referred to the education department.