SCHOOL governors called on councillors to fund a vacancy for a lollipop man or woman at their crossing.

Ralph Scott, a governor at Barley Lane Primary School, Huxley Drive, Chadwell Heath, presented a petition to Area Committee Five at their meeting on Monday night.

It asked the council to allow the committee to release funds for the post.

Mr Scott, a former Lib Dem councillor in Chadwell ward, urged the committee to support the governors in their bid to get the crossing manned and look at ways of finding the money themselves.

The petition comes after an announcement by the council that all empty school crossing patrol posts will not be filled, as part of �5m in-year spending cuts.

The meeting, in Mayfield School, Pedley Road, Goodmayes, heard that the role of a lollipop man was vital at the busy school.

Chadwell Cllr Andy Walker said: “My children go to that school and over the years I have seen some examples of what can be considered dangerous driving.

“Parents are sometimes in such a hurry that just stop in the middle of the road - its dangerous behaviour.

“I have seen cars go through a red light.”

Ward colleague Cllr Wes Streeting said he found it “hard to believe” that the council had not been able to recruit a lollipop man or woman to the crossing, adding: “It seems to me there are not many people out there who want work and are turning it down.”

Goodmayes Cllr Ali Hai said the committee should look at “alternative ways” of funding the role.

He said: “We should as a matter of course be going to our council but also going to our businesses.”