A LOLLIPOP lady whose life has been made hell by young thugs carried out her duties under police escort yesterday.

June Walker helped children to cross the road while two uniformed officers watched to make sure none of them attacked her.

It is thought to be the first time a school crossing warden has needed police protection in this country.

Mrs Walker said she could take no more of the verbal abuse, foul language and spitting as she carries out her crossing patrol duties. She has been pelted with stones and had snowballs shoved in her face by youngsters.

Just hours after Prime Minister Tony Blair announced a radical clamp down on yobbish behaviour, concerned bosses at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said they were considering removing June from the streets for her own safety.

Yesterday Cleveland Police stepped in to protect her.

A spokesman said: "It is a sad day when lollipop ladies need police protection. Behaviour such as this will not be tolerated and the culprits will be tracked down and put before the courts if necessary."

Mrs Walker, 53, said she had suffered more than enough abuse as she helped children on her crossing patrol near Nunthorpe primary and secondary schools, near Middlesbrough.

Council bosses have said they are monitoring the situation and believe a small number of teenagers are to blame.