LOLLIPOP wardens in the North-East are leading the way in safety training for colleagues across the UK.

Town halls throughout Britain have been given a Government-funded training manual featuring Sylvia Burton, who supervises Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's wardens.

The booklet was compiled by the Local Authority Road Safety Officers' Association and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

The authority has been a pioneer in tackling "lollipop rage" and is the first in the country to hold training days designed to help wardens overcome the stress of the job.

Its staff have put up with abuse that has ranged from foul language to coins and even packed lunch boxes being thrown at them by impatient motorists.

They were the first in the country to be issued with dictation machines to record inform-ation about drivers ignoring lollipop stop signs and jackets with flashing light panels.

Mrs Burton appears in the booklet, demonstrating the four signals wardens use.

They are: stick down, which means no traffic coming; stick in barrier position, signalling traffic to stop, children crossing; stick pointing up towards traffic, warning road users to prepare to stop; and stick being held upright and arms outstretched, telling all vehicles to stop.

Mike Hall, the council's education, training and promotions manager, said: "We are very proud of our crossing patrol officers and delighted that our good practices are being taken up nationally.''

The council's 100-plus lollipop wardens will attend a seminar next week, covering new parking legislation, health issues and anger management.

Mr Hall said: "We believe training seminars are another good example of how we value our staff, keeping them involved and informed in everything we do.''