COMPLAINTS about the roadworks outside Liphook's Bohunt School continued this week, as it was revealed they could be there until Christmas.

Developers Westbury Homes are building new houses on the Longmoor Road site, and have put up temporary traffic lights controlling one-way traffic as the public utilities are installed.

Hundreds of children leaving the school have to cross and recross the road further down to get around the works. Parents claim this is putting chidren's lives at risk.

Claire Rowe from Hollywater has a 12-year- old daughter at the school, and this week she repeated her call for a walkway to increase safety.

"There was an improvement, but after half-term the situation has gone back to being unsatisfactory," she said. "They've put up fencing for the safety of their workers I presume, but there's no footpath for the children."

Mrs Rowe suggested that the path would not have to be permanent; just for the times when children arrive in the morning and leave in the afternoon.

"It's an accident waiting to happen, and now the nights are getting darker it's even more of an issue," Mrs Rowe continued. "Children are taking their lives in their hands."

David Hart lives in Longmoor Road and told The Herald that the developers had "taken over" his road.

"The problems have come about again - now all the street lights have gone out," Mr Hart said. "East Hampshire District Council says the builders have a licence and there's nothing they can do."

Mr Hart claims that the builders are parking their vehicles all along the road, creating further obstructions.

"This week the children went back to school after half-term and you can't see anything in the dark," he added. "It's just not right."

Local residents and parents of Bohunt pupils first complained about the situation in September when the new term started.

"The developers are waiting for various services to be connected, and they're hoping to sort them out in the near future," said Brian Knight, Bohunt School's business manager.

"We always have a senior member of staff outside the school because we're very concerned about children's safety."

The works were originally due to be completed by August 23, before the new school year started, but there have continued to be delays.

A spokesman for Hampshire County Council said: "The traffic system will be in operation for the next few weeks. The work should be completed by Christmas at the latest."