Desperate hunt for lollipop staff

Schools across the Black Country and Staffordshire are still desperately looking for crossing wardens with the start of the new school year only days away.

There is still a dire shortage of lollipop ladies and men around the region.

Local authorities are making fresh pleas for people to come forward and register interest. There are still 16 vacancies across Wolverhampton – just under one fifth of the total number of 110 posts in the city. Wolverhampton City Council said, however, that the figure is better than last year.

In 2006 the Express & Star ran a campaign to try and boost recruitment.

Tim Clark, spokesman for Wolverhampton City Council, said: "We are pleased to say that a successful recruitment drive over the past year has meant that we've been able to bring down the number of vacancies for crossing patrol wardens considerably.

"This time last year we had 27 vacancies from a total of 110 posts. The current number of vacancies is 16.

"However, it is crucial that we find people to fill those remaining vacancies. We would urge anyone who is interested in becoming a crossing warden to contact us."

Across Walsall, 25 per cent of posts remain empty, with 30 more crossing wardens needed from a total number of 120.

In Dudley, there are six vacancies still waiting to be filled from 133 school patrol crossing sites and people are urged to come forward.

Katherine Finney, spokeswoman at Dudley Borough Council, said: "The safety of children in the borough is our priority. Although these schools have vacancies, the sites are always covered by our professional team of 25 standby patrols."

In Staffordshire the numbers of warden posts are at an all-time low, with just 17 positions from a total of 400 yet to be filled. The vacancies, four per cent of the total figure, are located in the Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle area.