Parents have been warned to remain calm outside a Newton Mearns primary school.

That’s after details of a road rage incident at the Mearns Primary School gates emerged during a meeting of East Renfrewshire Council’s cabinet.

Councillor Caroline Bamforth claimed angry mums and dads were seen chasing other parents over dangerous parking last week.

It comes as Police Scotland revealed that 81 people, including two children, were injured on East Renfrewshire’s roads between April and December last year.

Speaking to the cabinet, Councillor Bamforth said: “I have had a lot of calls this week because we’re having issues at Mearns Primary.

“There was a bit of a road rage incident where drivers were chasing each other last week because people were double parking or triple parking. It was witnessed by several people.

“I know the police were called on a couple of occasions.”

Police Superintendent Donna Henderson warned that parents could face action over road rage incidents.

She said: “If there’s a specific issue around Mearns Primary then we can have a meeting to rectify that.

“I wasn’t aware of the road rage incident. We can’t have that outside primary schools. It’s just not acceptable conduct.

“With road rage we can take a whole different approach and it can very much be classed as criminal activity.”

In his report to the cabinet, Brian McInulty, Chief Superintendent of Police Scotland’s Greater Glasgow Division, vowed to continue tackling dangerous parking.

He said: “Concerns have been raised about the safety of children in and around primary schools at the start and end of the school day.

“We have engaged in partnership working with East Renfrewshire Education Department, Roads, Environment, Parent Councils, Community Councils and elected members.

“Campus officers are working with East Renfrewshire Roads and Transportation Department to progress the longer term ‘park and stride’ project, which aims to discourage drivers from bringing vehicles into the close proximity of schools and to encourage the healthy aspects of walking to school.

The incident was highlighted just months after East Renfrewshire Council launched its Go Safe East Ren initiative aimed at promoting road safety near schools.

An East Renfrewshire Council spokeswoman said: “We are aware of reports of inconsiderate parking at schools and it is very disappointing that parents and guardians are acting in this way.

“Road safety will continue to be a priority and we would like to ask anyone picking up or dropping off at a school, to remember that parking laws and restrictions still apply, and to make sensible, responsible decisions when deciding where to stop their car.”