OKEHAMPTON Primary School has hired a new crossing patrol lollipop lady.

The school has hired Jo Hutchings at a time when many schools had fears they would lose their crossing patrol service.

The county council recently shelved plans to axe funding for school crossing patrols after originally supporting recommendations that the authority stop funding paid patrols and transfer the costs to schools and school communities.

Okehampton Primary has decided to pay for its own patrol to secure its future.

Headteacher Hazel Fox said: ‘As a school we have taken the decision to employ our town lollipop lady. We are actually looking for another, with the aim of them also teaching some road safety to our pupils.

‘We know there are lots of agencies facing lots of cutbacks and we thought this would be the least we can do.’

Pictured Jo Hutchings with children from Okehampton Primary School.