REMEMBER that old number Max Bygraves used to sing, When You Come to the End of your Lollipop? He was crooning, I think, about the sweet lollies that often had a joke on their sticks.

But today the end of lollipops is anything but a joke for Dorset County Council is axing 65 lollipop patrol jobs to save £200,000.

Having to make any cuts involves chilling choices but £200,000 does not seem a huge deal in the context of road safety.

In 2009, according the charity Brake, a dozen children were killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads… every day.

In sun, rain or, recently, snow and ice, it is always reassuring to see the familiar sight of lollipop men and women helping children safely across roads inhabited by mad motorists. Nationally, three received gongs in the New Year Honours.

The dosh-saving plan for Dorset – and that doesn’t include Bournemouth or Poole – is to avoid shelling out by asking local communities to foot the bill or finding volunteers to provide patrols for free.

Hmm. Fine if it works… but last month a senior road safety officer reportedly observed that it might mean patrols are retained in more affluent areas while poorer areas lose out. Worrying point.

Cuts almost always hurt someone but something feels very wrong when £200,000 is weighed against the potential cost of children’s lives.

Max’s old lyric finished saying that when you come to the end of your lollipop “plop goes your heart”. Many people’s heart will sink if lollipop patrols disappear in Dorset.

Let’s hope the result of the county saving lolly is that children don’t end up the suckers.