A SCHOOL is having to raise its own funds for a lollipop patrol after Warwick-shire County Council refused to pay for the service.

The children at Welford Primary face the prospect of having to cross busy roads without help unless the school can raise the thousands of pounds needed to pay for the service, after the county council said it did not meet the criteria to receive funding.

The school has been providing its own lollipop service for a year but only after school caretaker Michael Hyde stepped in as the crossing warden and Stratford Garden Centre agreed to sponsor the service.

Acting headteacher Kathy Copley said: "There's so much traffic in the mornings and it's important the children have assistance crossing the roads. Our own patrol has been very successful and we don't want to lose it."

The current sponsorship will run out in Easter 2008 and to try and keep the patrol going, school governor and parent Michael Carr will run in this September's Great North Run dressed as a lollipop man in the hope of rasing money towards the £2,000-2,500 target needed per year to provide the service.

"We have had the service for twelve months but it will eventually run out. We have been trying to raise funds and Michael has very kindly agreed to help us. We're very grateful for what he is doing. He has shown great community spirit," added Mrs Copley.

A council spokesman said: "The decision whether a local authority funds a crossing warden is made by a set of national criteria. This works to a formula which takes into account the number of children and the number of cars.

"Although Welford Primary does not meet these criteria, the county council provides a good deal of support in the form of recruiting, training, supervising and equipping the crossing warden with uniform and pole."

To support the fund, call the school on 01789 750214.