Joanne McCourt, who has four children at the school, decided to make sure youngsters were able to get over the road safely while the absence continues — a situation which was unchanged today.

“I’ve just been standing to make sure the kids either have parents to help them get across or I’m helping them myself,” Joanne explained.

“I went out on the Friday and I think most people had tried to get out to help their kids, but I don’t think many other people knew she would be off on Monday so I went out to help again then.”

Joanne, who lives beside the crossing, said parents and children alike had been supportive of her efforts, but played down her individual contribution.

“It is just quite difficult to cross over the road because, although Balgillo Road is supposed to be a 30 miles-per-hour speed limit, only about 10% of cars actually keep to the speed limit,” she claimed.

“It is important someone is helping the children.

“I’ve had calls from other parents — it’s not just me, all parents are happy to help — but we are just concerned if it’s going to be a long-term thing.”

A Dundee City Council spokesman said, “The city council is aware of the situation and is looking into it.”

Meanwhile, parents parking near another Dundee school when off-loading their youngsters have been told their actions pose a danger to pupils walking to school.

Jim Patterson, who lives in Craigiebarn Road, has written to Craigiebarns Primary to voice his concerns about the potential dangers of parking in the street and to ask for help in stopping the practice.

Mr Patterson claims his daughter was almost hit by a car parking on the pavement on her 200-yard walk to school.

In an email to head teacher Julie Lemon, he said, “Would you be kind enough to remind parents of the dangers of parking in Craigiebarn Road?

“The top of the road is congested further by the burst water repair, although this does not appear to alter the view of parents that it is acceptable to put other children’s safety at risk to allow their’s to be pampered right up to the doorstep!

“We would also appreciate you reminding parents the cul-de-sac at the top is in fact a private residential area for which we pay the upkeep and maintenance on (from the cobbles onwards). They should not be using this area at all, never mind parking on grass verges at people’s gardens.”

Mr Patterson also submitted a photograph to the school showing cars parked on yellow markings, over entrances and on pavements.

In other school safety news, cones are back in place on the no-stopping area outside Eastern Primary School in Broughty Ferry after concerns were highlighted in the Tele.

It emerged last week that the measure, part of a high-profile pilot scheme which the council is now rolling out across Dundee, had seemingly been abandoned, with some parents again stopping their vehicles on the zig-zag area outside the school as a result.

Now the cones are being put out again, and a parent said today, “The impact has been immediate, with no sign of the selfish and dangerous parking which was creeping back in.”