THE clock is ticking down towards the closure at the end of this month of a petition placed on Thurrock Council's website to curtail the parking of vehicles close to two primary schools in Tilbury.

Residents mounted the petition in a bid to stop the operators and customers of a vehicle repair business parking close to Lansdowne Academy and St Mary's Catholic primary.

The petition will close at the end of April.

In it residents say: "Residents of Tilbury town and the wider community of Thurrock call on Thurrock Council and its enforcement to take urgent action against the owner/owners of the repair business located in Lansdowne Road, using the Queenls Highway as an extension of their business."

The petition organisers says the business is taking up "all parking spaces in the current controlled parking zone in both Lansdowne Road and Calcutta Road which is not allowing parents to pick up or drop off their children from the two schools in a safe and controlled manner.

"This is a long ongoing matter that requires some urgent action."

So far the petition, which is accessible via this link (it requires signing in to the council's website), has attracted 54 responses.