A LOLLIPOP man looked back in time when he saw how his job shaped up decades ago.

School crossing patrol George Wright sees children safely across the road on High Street, in Spennymoor, County Durham, at the start and end of the day.

He had a glimpse of how his role might have looked in the 1970s when he visited Spennymoor Town Hall to see a painting by local artist Norman Cornish.

The painting features a crossing patrol on the same spot that George now works, showing a zebra crossing and fish and chip shop which are both still there.

The painting is on permanent display at the town hall’s art gallery.

Alan Kennedy, road safety manager at Durham County Council, said: “School crossing patrols play a really important role in our communities.

“They ensure the safety of thousands of children, sometimes in terrible weather conditions, and it is lovely to see their work recognised by Norman Cornish in this painting.”

Spennymoor Town Hall Art Gallery is free and open Saturdays 10am to 2pm, and Monday to Friday, noon to 4pm.