WHEN lollipop ladies were first introduced in 1953, nearly 800 children had been killed on the roads during the previous year.

Since that time, despite an increase in traffic, child deaths on our roads have dropped significantly.

Latest figures reveal that 169 youngsters under the age of 16 were killed in 2006.

It takes a lot of guts to step out into the middle of a busy road, stop the traffic and guide children safely across, but that's exactly what Janet Bessant has been doing twice a day for the last 15 years.

Janet, 68, is a school crossing patroller for St James's C of E Primary School in Pokesdown and, chatting to her during her shift, I realise she really does take her life in her hands - one oblivious motorist zooms straight past, missing her by inches.

But despite the perils of the job, Janet insists she enjoys it.

"I do enjoy it. They're nice children and I've known a lot of them from babies," she said.

"I don't know all the mums' names, but I know a lot of the children's names - although I can't remember them all."

The children all remember Janet's name, however. They all call greetings to her as they leave school, whether they're crossing the road or not.

One little boy even stops to give her a hug.

And it's not just the children. The parents obviously appreciate the work Janet does, as they too all know her name.

Janet is one of 46 patrollers across Bournemouth, most of whom are stationed outside primary schools.

"They're doing an invaluable job", said Claire Elkins, Bournemouth Borough Council's road safety officer.

"They're working really hard and they're out there in all weathers. Some of them have been doing the job for years.

"They just keep going and they don't complain."

While some of the patrollers are retired, like Janet, many others are young mums, who find the shifts fit in perfectly with dropping off and picking up their own children from school.

However there remains a stereotypical image of lollipop ladies being much older people, which does make it difficult to recruit more patrollers.

"They're not the easiest to recruit, because of that image," admits Claire.

"But once they start doing the job they really enjoy it.

"I think we are at about 98 per cent at the moment, but we always need relief for specific sites and we need mobile relief that drive around the different sites."

All patrollers are Criminal Records Bureau checked and given special training before actually completing a shift.

They are also invited to attend an annual training day, where they can meet other patrollers and share any concerns with the road safety officers.

Lollipop ladies may have a bit of an old-fashioned image, but Claire is adamant there will be a place for them in years to come - not least because of ever-increasing traffic flow outside schools.

"At junior and primary schools it's very important to have someone, especially for year six.

"You get the children walking to school on their own to get ready for senior school," she explained.

"Also, with the road circumstances and the road layout and traffic volume, you can't have pelican crossings and toucan crossings at every site.

"That would cost a lot of money as well.

"There will definitely always be a place for lollipop ladies."

To find out more about becoming a school crossing patroller, call Karen Fletcher at Bournemouth Borough Council on 01202 454636.