LOLLIPOP lady Shirley Hutchinson is hanging up her stick after three decades of helping kids cross the road safely.

The 66-year-old started her job at Whitecliffe Primary School at Carlin How, near Saltburn, in 1983 when her now grown-up children David and Dawn were pupils.

She is now helping the children of some of those she used to see across the road as youngsters.

But at the end of the July term, the grandmother-of four will retire after suffering recent ill health.

“I’ve had Addison’s disease since I was 39 years old and in the last few months I’ve been in hospital twice with pneumonia," she said.

“I absolutely love the job, meeting people, having a laugh with the kids - I just like everything about it so it will be very sad to leave.”

“I’ll still keep in touch with the school and go back in. It’s been a big part of my life and I’ll miss it very much.”

Mrs Hutchinson, who lives nearby with husband David, said she is looking forward to spending more time with her two grandsons in Brotton, Liam, nine, and four-year-old Joshua, and hopes to get over to France sometime to see

daughter Dawn and her children, Charlotte, six, and six-month-old Daniel.

Christine Otto, deputy headteacher, said: “Shirley is a lovely lady and a much-respected figure in both the school and the

community."