Worthing mum's anger at '˜dangerous' sign

Jodie Darke, of Orme Road, watched in horror as her six-year-old son Joshua fell into the road after the signpost he leaned on, in Anglesea Street, Worthing, collapsed.

But 24-year-old Jodie said the accident, which happened on Monday, December 6, during the walk to Heene First School, in Norfolk Street, could have been worse.

The mother-of-two, who that morning was also taking her friend’s four-year-old daughter, Cleo O’Byrne, to school, said serious injury could have been caused if a car had been driving by at the time.

“It’s dangerous – surely the sign should be replaced or taken down?

“It only takes one kid to touch it and it’s going to fall, and if a car happens to come by at that time, someone could be seriously hurt,” she said.

Jodie said the signpost had been struck in a car accident a week before, causing it to fall over and break the window of a recruitment agency.

But instead of being removed or replaced, she said the signpost had been stood back up, causing a “dangerous hazard” to the families who walk past it before and after school.

Jodie said another child was injured by the sign later in the day, confirming her fears it was dangerous.

The two accidents prompted her to complain about the sign to the council, but she said she was given no assurances it would be fixed or replaced.

Worthing Borough Council spokeswoman Wendy Knight said there was no record of the broken sign being reported to the council but confirmed it would be removed.