Parents are up in arms after a council jobsworths decided to axe a much-loved lollipop lady claiming her presence outside a school is 'unsafe'.
Sarah Middleton, 53, has supervised children across Church Road, in Ferndown, Dorset, for 18 months and has been recognised as an 'unsung community hero'.
But Dorset Council have installed two zebra crossings and have now cut her job because they say it is 'confusing' to drivers to have a lollipop lady on the crossing.
The 30mph road averages 8,000 cars a day and parents say removing the lollipop lady will increase the risk of accidents.
Mrs Middleton said that some cars fail to stop even for her and the situation will worsen after she leaves.
A petition has been launched and has already gathered more than 600 signatures in a week.
The move by Dorset Council follows a similar decision in the village of Lytchett Matravers, where they planned to get rid of lollipop lady Lauren Cannon from outside the primary school.
There the local authority U-turned following public outcry and agreed the patrol could move off the zebra crossing and further down the road.
Sarah Middleton has supervised children across Church Road, in Ferndown, Dorset, for 18 months and has been recognised as an 'unsung community hero'
A petition has been launched and has already gathered more than 600 signatures in a week
Mrs Middleton will remain in place until the end of the school year to give parents and children time to adjust.
Parent Lou Elliott-Smith said: 'I don't see how having someone visually there to help children cross can confuse drivers, surely they are more likely to see her and stop.
'We need to try to get the council to see sense.
'The kids adore Sarah. She's such a lovely, proper community person. It's a job she's doing for the love not the money.
'Some cars don't stop, she has had quite a few near misses. Ultimately, you remove somebody and worst case scenario someone will get killed.'
Cally Sebis said: 'My children and I use these crossings daily on the school run and the amount of cars that still don't stop when they see people crossing the unmanned crossing is unbelievable.'
Lauren Hawksworth said: 'Drivers do not stop there when she is not there. If it confuses drivers as suggested, they should not be on the road.'
Church Road has three schools on it serving 1,500 pupils.
Mrs Middleton, who is also a foster carer, said she will not go without a fight.
She said: 'I have three schools and there's also a playschool at the first school so I have a lot of activity going on. I have traffic coming from four different directions - it's dangerous.
'From my perspective I'm enforcing that you have to stop - I have speeders, people that just fail to stop, people swerving me and I'm head to toe in high vis with a big stick.
'The children know how to use the crossing with me, what's going to happen in September when they don't have me?
'My parents live in Ferndown, my children have all been to the schools there. It's my community and I'm passionate about kids and safeguarding.
'The community have been fantastic, I'm feeling very supported. I'm not going to go quietly, I just want to raise awareness of how dangerous it's going to be.'
Local councillor Cathy Lugg said she was 'very disappointed' the patrol is being withdrawn and has questioned Sarah's removal with Dorset Council.
She said: 'The crossings remain extremely busy, serving children from the first, middle and upper schools and compounded by ongoing dangerous parking at the start and end of the school day.'
Mrs Middleton, who is also a foster carer, said she will not go without a fight
Dorset Council have installed two zebra crossings and have now cut her job because they say it is 'confusing' to drivers to have a lollipop lady on the crossing
Jon Andrews, Dorset Council's highways portfolio holder, said: 'This is not a funding decision, or we wouldn't have put in the zebra crossings.
'School crossing patrols are valued and Dorset Council continues to fund them where they are needed and meet our requirements.
'Communities can choose to fund them at other locations, but not at zebra crossings.'
A Dorset Council spokesperson added: 'The significant investment we have made through the installation of two new zebra crossings at Ferndown reflects our ongoing priority to keep children and pedestrians safe, both during the school day and beyond.
'They provide a safe, formal crossing point all year round and at all times of day. This road is not only used at school times, but is also an important route for people walking to and from the town centre.
'We understand and recognise parents' concerns.
'School Crossing Patrol officers are highly valued by families, carers, communities and Dorset Council, and where a patrol is needed and meets our policy criteria, we continue to fully fund and support these roles.
'However, having a zebra crossing and school crossing patrol in the same location can create confusion about who drivers should respond to.
'Department for Transport guidance states that clear priorities for drivers is critical when designing road layouts.
'Zebra crossings increase driver awareness and anticipation, leading to earlier deceleration and increasing the likelihood of drivers being ready to stop.
'Everyone wants to keep children safe, and we don't take those concerns raised lightly. Our decisions are guided by safety and a desire to provide clear and consistent crossing arrangements.'