A COUNCIL today pleaded with mums and dads to help them fill more than a dozen lollipop lady vacancies.

A total of 15 schools in Worcestershire will open in September without a crossing patrol warden.

Among them are Vaynor First School, Oak Hill First School and St Luke’s CE First School, all in Redditch.

Worcestershire County Council’s senior councillor for transport said that the importance of lollipop men and women “should not be underestimated”.

Coun Derek Prodger said: “All of the school crossing patrol officers in Worcestershire help their local communities each and every day.

“I encourage anyone who thinks they might be able to help fill the vacancies that currently exist to get in touch with us to find out more.”

A total of 80 wardens are employed by the local authority, earning between £7.10 and £8.12 an hour.

All successful applicants receive a salary, full training and a uniform.

School-patrol crossing supervisor Christine Bridgwater, who was a lollipop-lady for seven years, said: “I was taking my own children to school and thought it would be beneficial to the rest of the community if I applied for the job to help other children and their parents to cross a very busy road.”