A NEW school crossing point will be supervised by a town's youngest lollipop lady.

Patricia English, 26, is the latest member of Darlington Borough Council's crossing patrol team and will be in charge of a site on Brinkburn Road, at its junction with Major Street.

The mother-of-four will help pupils from primary schools including Reid Street, Cockerton, Holy Family and Corporation Road, as well as children from Longfield Comprehensive, to cross safely each school day.

The crossing point was put in place following concerns from a parent of a pupil from Reid Street School.

Mrs English is following in the footsteps of her mother, Lynn LeMasurier, who is a lollipop lady on a nearby street.

Mrs English said: "I love my new job. It fits around the children's school holidays and the school working day, so I can spend time with my own children and earn some extra cash as well."

Nick Wallis, council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "The crossing patrol team is essential to help us achieve our aim of encouraging more pupils to walk to school safely in order to ease congestion on our roads and to promote the health benefits of regular walking."