A school has been in turmoil over the lack of available parking spaces.

Parents of St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, Brook Road, have been forced to drop off their children with other parents or the head mistress as they have been unable to park.

The adjacent car park to the school is now being used by employees of the BBC and Elstree Studios as the site is expanding.

Permits had been issued to parents for £15 per year to enable them to park at the beginning and end of the school day so that they could safely drop off and collect their children.

But now Hertsmere Borough Council have given leases of £400 a year to studio employees to allow them to park at the site closest to the studio.

As a faith school which has had oversubscription for places in the past five years, pupils come from further afield than a standard catchment area, so walking would not be suitable.

Head mistress Teresa McBride said: “Parents were having to drive through the car park, it was very upsetting for the children.

“It was not an ideal start to the day as children were distressed, and parents had to leave for work knowing their children were upset.

“The issue has been solved for this term, but I worry about the long term plan. Our most vulnerable students cannot walk to school.”

Mother Tracey Capone said: “I have one child at the school and two younger children that I need to take with me every day.

“We have been told that this is the safest place to park so that we can take our children to school.

“The school is right next to a main road, we were told this was the best place for our children’s safety but now there is no space for us.

Councillor Seamus Quilty, for transport said: “As the studios is a valued asset to the local community and important site of employment, the council have been keen to support this work, through providing a fixed number of parking permits to BBC staff.

“Working with the school, we have made an additional 40 parking spaces available on the grass next to the car park for permit-holders. Parents will also be able to park in the Civic Offices car park for short stay or drop off purposes.

“This is for a limited period to cover the rest of the school term and allow time to examine other options. In the meantime, we’re continuing to work with the BBC and St Teresa’s to provide a longer term solution to this issue.

“We want to thank all car park users for their patience at this time.”