A RUNCORN lollipop lady is hanging up her stop sign for the final time after years spent manning Halton's school crossings.
Mary Gittens, of Pine Road, who retired on Friday, a week before her 70th birthday, is a familiar face to thousands of schoolchildren after providing emergency cover for the permanent crossing wardens since 1999.
Mary has often found herself at different schools all over the borough, on the same day.
A talented cook, well known for home made cakes and home brewed wine, as well as her handiwork skills, Mary is looking forward to the chance to pursue all her hobbies.
Sue Davies, the council's school crossing patrol supervisor, said: 'Mary's cheerful nature, enthusiasm and dedication to her job will be very much missed by everyone in the road safety team, her patrol colleagues and teachers, parents and children throughout Halton.
'We appreciate the hard work, dedication and commitment of all our school crossing patrols, who play a key role in keeping the children of Halton safe on their journeys to and from school each day.
'At times it can also be a demanding job, working in all weather and sometimes having to cope with thoughtless behaviour from drivers and other road users, but patrols quickly become part of their local community.'
