AN IMPATIENT driver drove at a teacher as she tried to usher schoolchildren across a busy road junction.

The five-year-old children were crossing Chichester Road at the junction with Southchurch Road in Southend when an impatient driver angrily revved his engine, yelled abuse and drove towards the group.

The car, thought to be a black Audi, is said to have advanced on the group as the slower children amongst them were still in the road when the lights turned green.

The teacher stepped in the way of the car and tried to reason with the couple in the car before it sped off.

Dang O’Farrell, 37, who heard the commotion while working at the nearby Corner House cafe, said: “I heard a loud blast of a horn and saw the teacher in the middle of the road. He nearly ran her over.

“He drove forward and she put her hand on the bonnet to say stop. She was shaking. It looked really scary.

“She was protecting the children and they looked upset at what was happening, before the car drove away.”

One eyewitness, who wished to remain anonymous, urged the police to catch the motorist.

He said: “The guy lost his patience, revved loads while they were crossing then drove at the teacher who was ushering the kids across the road.

“The drivers’ girlfriend was screaming out of the window at the kids who were crying at seeing this happen to their teacher.”

It is not known if the children were from a Southend school or part of a group visiting the area.

Police confirmed they are investigating the incident and said inquiries are continuing to identify the driver.

A spokesman said: “A party of adults and young children were crossing the road using a pedestrian crossing at the junction with Southchurch Road when the occupants of a car in the line of traffic were verbally abusive towards them.

“An adult in the group motioned for the vehicle to stop as the engine was revving and she was concerned it might drive forward.

“No-one was injured, but the children were left shaken by the incident.”