Parents and pupils at a Chadwell Heath school are edging closer to having their crossing patrol restored after months of campaigning.

The lollipop patrol at Grove Primary School, in Chadwell Heath Lane, was removed last year, sparking a petition with more than 200 signatures and pressure from ward councillors.

A council committee elected to support the �4,000 a year patrol with area funding in May and the move has now been supported by the Environment and Community Safety Scrutiny committee.

Parent David Warlow spoke at the meeting last week to explain why the patrol was needed.

“We fearfully believe it is a case of when an accident is to happen, not if,” he said.

“Please reinstate our school patrol officer before one of our children is injured or killed.”

The committee elected to pass the funding proposal on to the cabinet.

Campaigner Amanda Turi, who has two children at the school, said she was “delighted” at the news.

She added: “I’m felling pretty positive that it’s going to move forward something good will come out of it but at the moment it’s a waiting game.

“With any luck it will have a knock-on effect on schools across the borough because we are not the only school in this position.”

Although there is a pelican crossing near the site of the old lollipop patrol, campaigners believe children’s safety is at risk.

A survey conducted last month by year five pupils reported that 111 drivers failed to stop at amber lights in three days.

The original petition, in November, described cars driving through red lights and several “near misses” where children were almost hit.

Chadwell councillor Wes Streeting said the committee’s support for the funding proposal was an “encouraging” move.

He added: “This is a campaign where parents and pupils have identified a very real need for a patrol.

“I hope that councillors from all parties will listen to what parents are saying.”

The cabinet is expected to consider the issue at a meeting on September 11.