Bodycams issued after lollipop lady punched

A councillor described the attack on a lollipop lady as appalling

School crossing patrols are to be given body-worn cameras after a lollipop lady was punched as she tried to stop traffic.

Rochdale Council is to trial the cameras at some crossing points to deter "dangerous and hostile" drivers.

In one incident that prompted the move, a boy of four was injured in a hit-and-run.

Councillor Shah Wazir, cabinet member for facilities and highways at the council, said he had been "appalled" by the recent incidents.

Driver attack

On 16 May a four-year-old boy was clippead by a car which failed to stop at a crossing on on Hartley Lane and Daventry Road.

Five days later a car queuing in traffic on Kiln Lane, Milnrow reversed into an 11-year-old girl as she was crossing the road.

The council said: "The driver was attempting to beat the traffic by cutting through a nearby estate.

"Fortunately, neither child was seriously injured."

On 6 June a driver got out of his car and punched a lollipop lady as she was setting up on the corner of Edenfield Road and Churchill Street.

The incidents have been reported to police

Councillor Wazir said: "We're not hesitating to put extra protection measures in place and send the message out that this behaviour is completely unacceptable.

"This aggression and impatience from drivers has now led to two young children being clipped by cars and culminated in a physical attack on one of our members of staff while she was doing her job.

"We’re extremely fortunate that none of these incidents left somebody with serious injuries, or worse."

It is an offence to fail to stop at a school crossing from the moment the school crossing patrol has lifted their sign to show they are about to step into the road.

The incidents have been reported to Greater Manchester Police, the council added.