IT’S official – a Basingstoke lollipop lady is the best in the whole of Hampshire.

Belinda Mott, who helps children from Castle Hill Infant and Junior schools cross the road safely, was named as the overall winner of the School Crossing Patrol of the Year award at a ceremony in Winchester.

Mrs Mott, from Dudley Close, Winklebury, was up against 10 other lollipop men and women from each of the boroughs and districts in the county.

This year marks 60 years of the school crossing patrol service nationally, and to celebrate the milestone, children were asked to send in a poem, drawing or story illustrating why their school crossing patrol is a real diamond.

Mrs Mott was nominated by 10-year-old Jack Freeman, who drew a poster showing the lollipop lady helping children cross the road in the rain.

He said: “Really, it’s not very much fun being a lollipop lady when you are standing out in the snow, sleet, hail and rain. She is a good lollipop lady because she’s always here.”

Mrs Mott, 52, said she took on the role 12 years ago when two of her four children were at the Castle Hill schools, in Winklebury.

She said: “I got dragged into doing it. But I do enjoy it now because you meet a lot of different people and watch the children get older. It’s a good job.”

She added: “It’s not much fun in the rain and cold but you know you have got to be there whatever the weather.”

The mother-of-four and grandmother-of-nine said she was “thrilled” to win, adding: “It was a total shock. I honestly didn’t expect to win as there were so many great entries.

“It was lovely to be nominated. I do the job every day – we go out in all weathers.

“Jack’s drawing is really good and he’s right to not include the sun in his picture – I rarely see it!”

Parents and children who cross Winklebury Way with Mrs Mott were full of praise for their lollipop lady.

Caroline Vint, a 38-year-old mother-of-three, from Buckskin, Basingstoke, said: “She’s great and does a great job. She always has a chat.”

Christine Ruffell, 44, from Pembrook Road, Basingstoke, who has two children at Castle Hill schools, added: “She’s lovely and jolly every day whatever the weather.”

And Molly Wright, 11, from Rooksdown, Basing-stoke, added: “She’s friendly and helpful.”