A Colliers Wood mum has vowed to take her children into class 10 minutes late every day, in a bid to avoid congestion in the cul-de-sac outside their school.

Daniela Tilbrook says the areas outside Singlegate Primary school is both an accident waiting to happen, but also a hotbed for air pollution.

Mrs Tilbrook and her husband walk their two young children to and from school every day.

She said that the worsening traffic in the cul-de-sac outside the school has compelled her to take action to reduce the risk to the safety and health of her children, as well as their classmates.

"We are facing illegal levels of air pollution in London," she explained.

"Merton Council and the Mayor of London have acknowledged the problem but the situation around our school is just getting worse.

"The cul-de-sac gets completely congested at drop-off and pick up. On an average morning, there are approximately 40 cars queuing up, pulling in, pulling out, idling and doing three point turns in the cul-de-sac over a 20-minute period."

"Not only are the emissions dangerous, but with the number of children spilling onto the road from the narrow pavement, many on bicycles and scooters, it’s an accident waiting to happen. This road should become a School Safety Zone."

Follow her video protest on Twitter @TilbrookDaniela 

She wants to see the council and TfL turn the cul-de-sac into a school safety zone at drop-off and pick-up times.

So far three school safety zones have been installed around the borough at Harris Primary Academy Merton, Links and St Thomas of Canterbury.

And Cllr Martin Whelton, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Housing and Transport said plans are in the works to bring the same scheme to Singlegate.

“As a council we approved the a school safety zone at Singlegate Primary last year, but we have been waiting for consent from TfL who are the traffic authority for South Gardens," he said.

"We are pleased that they have now agreed the locations of the signs and use of their infrastructure and we will be doing everything possible as a council to get TfL to expedite the legal process and to ensure that the zone is introduced as soon as possible."

But the sheer number of cars isn't the only concern from Mrs Tilbrook either.

"Idling engines also need to be tackled as they emit almost twice the emissions of a moving vehicle," she added.

"Every minute a car leaves its engine on while stationary, it releases approximately 150 balloons worth of toxic emissions.

"No child should have to breathe in these emissions just to get to school. Idling is illegal so I want Merton Council to enforce this."

Mr Whelton said this is on the council's radar.

"We are also stepping up our anti-idling campaign to tackle one of the biggest causes of pollution outside the school gates," he said.

"We hope to introduce further school safety zones in Merton as tacking air quality and emissions is a priority for the council having recently declared a climate emergency."

Mrs Tilbrook is keen to get this matter resolved sooner rather than later as she wants to take her children to school on time.

However until the road outside the Singlegate is a School Safety Zone, then she will continue to bring them in late.