SCHOOLCHILDREN are having to tackle busy roads because of a desperate shortage of lollipop wardens.

Out of six crossing points in Otley normally with wardens, only one is manned, another has a new person about to start but the other four remain vacant.

And now an urgent appeal has gone out to men or women with a couple of hours to spare on schooldays to apply for the job.

Andrea Bottomley, Leeds City Council's school crossing patrol coordinator, said wardens had retired and, despite advertising the posts, no one had applied.

"The wardens get heaps of appreciation from children and their parents.We train them, they get their uniforms provided and half pay during the school holidays," she said.

Jackie Carr, right, a lollipop lady in Otley for four years, guides children from the Thomas Chippendale School across Newall Carr Road.

"I'd recommend the job to any mother with a couple of kids to support or even an active pensioner, it's good money as well," said Mrs Carr.

Mrs Carr added she had never had any trouble with impatient car drivers and had only once had a narrow miss with a cyclist.

"I did have a close shave with a cyclist. The cyclist went straight past me and if there had been any of the kids in the road they would've been knocked down, but on the whole everything has been fine," she added.

Anyone up to age of 70 years old can apply for the job that normally takes up from between five to eight hours every week.

They are paid £4.77 per hour and get half pay during the school holidays when their services are not required. Vacancies in Otley are currently at Cattlemarket Street, Cross Green, outside Ashfield Infants School and at the junction of Piper Lane and Scarborough Road. Anyone interested should telephone Andrea Bottomley on (0113) 2475589. (25-10-AH)

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