A SCHOOL in Redditch is likely to lose its lollipop patrols in county council cuts.

Worcestershire County Council wants to make 15 Lollipop men or women redundant across the county, with cuts in Bromsgrove, nearby Hollywood, and Worcester.

If all 15 were made redundant, the council would save £45,000 a year.

The affected school in Redditch is Woodfield Academy on Studley Road.

The authority says crossing guards will only be cut from schools where there is already a light-controlled or zebra crossing, or where one will be put in.

Councillor Lucy Hodgson, cabinet member for communities, pointed out that some of the patrols pre-dated crossings being installed.

But the news has been greeted with concern by many parents saying lollipop ladies, and men, do a vital job.

Many said they stop cars speeding and some worried children would not have the patience to wait and might take risks crossing themselves.

Councillor Lucy Hodgson, cabinet member for communities said: “The safety of our children and young people getting to and from schools in this county is really important to us.

"Our priority is that we have school crossing patrols at sites where they are needed.

"We are proposing to only remove patrols that are at sites where zebra or light controlled crossings already exist to enable safe crossing or where national policy determines it does not meet need."

"We currently have patrols that work on light-controlled crossings or zebra crossings and in many cases they pre-date the crossing being installed."

She added: "Road safety education and training will be offered to schools affected by these proposed changes.

"We will be consulting with staff affected and listening to their feedback.

"We are working towards bringing in the changes by the start of the new school term in September."

Worcestershire's crossing guards are paid £7.89 per hour.

Hours of work vary between about 10 hours and five hours a week.