THE behaviour of secondary school pupils at a new play park has been causing a headache for the parents of primary school children.

Sarah Simpson passes a new play area off Three Elms Road when she takes and collects her two children to and from Trinity Primary School in Hereford.

But she said older children have been making the journey difficult as, she claims, they congregate at the park, swear and generally behave badly in front of the younger children.

Mrs Simpson said: "It may not be the same group of kids every time, but they are all going down the park and their language is disgusting."

The path to the primary school runs directly past the play area and Mrs Simpson said parents are ignored by the youngsters when they are asked to behave better.

She said: "It is the lack of respect, more than anything. I understand kids will be kids – they will show off in front of their friends.

"But they have been asked by so many parents to keep their bad language down. That is why we have a problem. I know parents should teach their children respect but it doesn't always happen."

Denise Strutt, headteacher of Whitecross High School – which is also close to the park – said her staff have been in touch with some of her school's students.

"We have the names of some of the individuals and we are dealing with them – they are in isolation and we are talking to their parents," she said.

"We are taking it very seriously."

Ms Strutt said a group of older students have also been down to the park and cleared the area of litter.

She added: "We are responding every time we are contacted. We are doing whatever we can.

"It is a tiny minority of a school of 900 - the vast majority of whom would be very angry and frustrated if they knew their peers were letting them down in this way."

She said Whitecross maintain a good relationship with Trinity and the two have talked about the issue.