THERE are fears that schoolchildren could be knocked down because of a large spike in heavy traffic outside a local secondary and nearby primary.

Ivy Siegfried, 80, says the £2.8m Scottish Water project in Inverkip Street is having a major knock-on effect on Dunlop Street.

Mrs Siegfried says more lorries and cars are now using this route and she is furious that the timescale for the work has been extended until October.

Ivy told the Telegraph: "It's been horrendous.

"It was supposed to be finished by the time the schools went back.

"I'm not happy about the time it is taking, it was supposed to take four weeks now it's going to go on until October.

"I'm not happy about the way it's been handled.

"We've got two schools in the area, St Patrick's and Notre Dame.

"I'm concerned about these kids.

"At lunch and break times they run across the road.

"I don't want to see any child lying under one of these lorries."

The temporary four-way traffic light system in Inverkip Street was introduced on July 9 so engineers could connect new infrastructure to an existing sewer.

But a hold up means it will take a further 10 weeks to finish.

Ivy said: "A survey was done at the beginning of the year which showed that between 12-14,000 vehicles were using Dunlop Street every day.

"I think it's doubled since Inverkip Street was disrupted."

Mrs Siegfried, who is just out of hospital after a case of suspected pneumonia, says the increase in traffic has left her whole house shuddering.

She said: "I had the tank sitting up against the wall in the living room when a lorry went past and it fell over with the vibration.

"I got the fright of my life.

"It could have exploded."

A spokesperson for Scottish Water said: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the road traffic management, which has had to be extended until October 12 due to unforeseen circumstances.

“The road traffic management has been planned and agreed with the roads authority Transport Scotland

"We will be happy to meet with members of the community to discuss any issues they might have.”