TWO Leasowe crossing patrols have been spared the axe after an impassioned plea by a councillor, parents and pupils.

At a meeting of full council last Monday, members agreed to save lollipop staff at Sandbrook Primary and Leasowe Primary - despite pressure to cut more local services.

A 250-signature petition signed by angered parents of children at Sandbrook was presented to the chamber by Leasowe and Moreton East councillor Don Prout.

Headteacher Phil Harvey said that the "bombshell" had only been dropped two days earlier and that the school worked tirelessly to drum up support to save their loyal lollipop lady Iris Harrison.

"As soon as we heard the news, we sent a letter out to parents," he said.

"Over 100 children use the Chapelhill Road crossing twice daily and over 60 vehicles pass this crossing during peak time.

"We felt it was essential and in the interest of our pupil's safety to fight for our lollipop lady and we are absolutely delighted with the news that she will be staying."

Mrs Harrison, who has helped children across the road for over five years said threats to her job were "a matter of life and death."

She said: "This road gets really busy and children should be seen across safely.

"I am very pleased with the council's decision to let me carry on."

A recommendation put before the full council last week called for eight crossing patrol posts to be axed.

Two sites identified had been replaced with toucan crossings and four others were defunct as they served schools that were no longer in operation.

But a council spokesperson confirmed that all patrol staff had been redeployed.

The two crossing patrols at Sandbrook and Leasowe Primary had been singled out because of the low pedestrian to vehicle ratio.

But Cllr Prout voiced his concerns and won the support of his fellow members who agreed that Chapelhill Road and Twickenham Drive should have school road safety measures in place.

He said: "A lot of hard work has gone into this very short campaign which has resulted in some very good news.

"I have passionately fought the school's corner and I am delighted that there has been a happy ending."