A NARROW escape for a mother and two children brought an end to Froxfield parents and children using the village roads during Walk to School Week.
Sarah Hill was walking to school along the road with Henry (4), George (2) in the pushchair, and the family dog, Stilton.
"I do not usually walk the children to school simply because safety is a problem. But I decided to try because it was Walk to School Week," she said.
"I heard a car approaching and as the BMW came into view I realised it was going too fast and I also realised I could hear another vehicle coming from behind.
"The BMW's brakes squealed and I pushed the children, the dog, myself and the pushchair off the road on to the verge.
"We all missed each other but there was no room for us on the road. If there had been no verge we would have had nowhere to go and it would have been a very different story," said Mrs Hill, who added that she was very shaken by the incident.
"The BMW did not even stop but the car that had come from behind did pull up to make sure we were all right.
"I do not think the BMW's driver lives in the village but it is a car I have often seen travelling along these roads," said Mrs Hill.
Froxfield Infant School has been encouraging children to walk during this week. But headteacher Lynn Chester is well aware that the roads are dangerous, so children have been offered a choice of how they can walk to gain their badges and certificates.
They can come to school by car and then either walk with their parents on the circuit of roads that surround the church or around the perimeter of the recreation ground.
The Hill family's narrow escape has meant that everyone has been sticking to the recreation field.
"I wish we could walk to school," said Mrs Hill. "It should be one of the joys of living in a village but we drive every day and our narrow escape underlines why so many parents feel they have to use their cars."