A SHORTAGE of lollipop people in Basingstoke means hundreds of schoolchildren have to cope with the traffic on their own.

There are currently eight vacancies for school crossing patrols in the town, meaning children are having to cross busy roads outside their schools unassisted.

A recruitment drive by Hampshire County Council, which is in charge of the patrols, has not resulted in enough applicants.

Ernie Sage, road safety services manager for the county council, said: "I would just say to people come and have a go' because the rewards are very high in terms of the response from children and parents, and of course it is a paid position.

"We all want to try to make the roads safer for children, and one of the ways is the provision of school crossing patrols.

"Unfortunately, we are always on a cycle of recruitment. It is the nature of the job as it's not something people do as a career - it's something people do following retirement or for the time that their children attend school."

Schools currently requiring a patrol are:

  • Costello Technology College
  • Four Lanes Junior School (which needs two patrols)
  • Four Lanes Infant School
  • Marnel Junior School
  • South View Junior School
  • St Marks CE Primary School
  • Old Basing Infant School

    For more information on the vacancies or to find out if there is a vacancy in your area, telephone the school crossing patrol team on 01962 846274.

The lollipop role requires a Criminal Records Bureau check as well as a medical form and the provision of references. Uniform is provided and a retainer is paid during the school holidays, when the service is not needed.

Tony Evans, of Huish Lane, Old Basing, has operated a school crossing patrol for St Mary's Junior School, Old Basing, for the past 18 months.

Mr Evans said: "I enjoy it very much. Meeting the children and the parents is lovely and I have never looked back since I started. Because I live locally, I can walk there and back, so the job keeps me fit as well."

Each day, Mr Evans, 53, helps 200 children safely cross the road outside the school during two hour-long shifts before and after school, from 8.15am and 3.15pm respectively.

He said: "It's a good job for someone who has just retired or has another part-time job because of the hours, but you have to keep your wits about you because it does carry a lot of responsibility."

Mr Evans, who has two adult sons and also works as a handyman, added: "My own children are grown up now, so it's nice to give something back."