SCHOOL staff and parents are fighting to save their lollipop lady after civic chiefs ruled to stop funding crossing patrols in Dorset.

Wool First School head teacher Lesley Craze fears pupil safety will be sacrificed, should they lose their lollipop lady of almost 22 years.

The Daily Echo told yesterday how Dorset County Council, which needs to make savings of nearly £60 million to balance its books, is looking to stop funding patrols in a bid to claw back £200,000.

However, campaigners at Wool First School have started a petition calling for the county to abandon these plans and are urging parents to write to councillors expressing their opposition.

Mrs Craze said: “Our road is a bad one because it is the first bit of the village you come down after travelling on a national speed limited road.

“Cars do whizz along here and on a dark, murky day when it is raining, there really is not good visibility.

“The last thing we want is children crossing the road on their own.”

Wool First School lollipop lady Barbara Battrick, 60, who was honoured by the county council in 2009 for 20 years’ service, said: “I am saddened by this news. We get a lot of heavy farm traffic and military vehicles in Wool.

“I have been told to continue until the summer, but then I just don’t know what will happen.

“If I am able to carry on, I certainly will.”

Dorset County Council has asked schools, town and parish councils to foot the crossing patrol bill – or find volunteers.

The cost of funding a crossing patrol is around £1,000 a term.

Wool chair of governors Andy Wilson said: “I think the loss of lollipop ladies and gentlemen throughout the area is definitely a backward step and one to be resisted. Hopefully the decision can be reversed.”