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Crumlin school principal steps in as a lollipop man

BBC Tony Young outside Crumlin Integrated Primary School wearing shirt and tie and high vis jacket, with high vis hat that reads "crossing patrol" and lollipop stick sign with the word STOP on itBBC
With the jacket he's the lollipop man; take it off and he's in a shirt and tie, ready to be principal again

The principal of a county Antrim primary school who is waiting to get a crossing patrol to help pupils cross the busy road outside his school has taken the lollipop into his own hands "for the safety of the children".

The previous lollipop man at Crumlin Integrated Primary retired in June.

And because of money saving measures the Education Authority (EA) had put a freeze on schools employing new ones.

So principal Tony Young stepped forward to don the distinctive coat and hat.

When the BBC went to visit the school last month Mr Young and parents talked about how worried they were that a child was going to be killed if something wasn't done.

A week later the Education Authority reversed its policy and allowed some schools to resume recruitment of "lollipop" crossing patrols.

Mr Young said he was contacted the day after the new policy came in but was told that it would take time to do an assessment and get a new crossing patrol in place.

He said he was asked if there was anyone in the school who could take on the role on a temporary basis.

He decided he and the vice principal would share the role - but there was a bit of training to do.

"There's a full guide book which has instructions of how you get the children across the road" as well as information on how to use the lollipop and what you should be wearing.

"The coat and the hat - those are the statutory items you have to wear."

There was a bit of surprise among parents, guardians and pupils when the principal first appeared on the crossing patrol - but they seem to be getting used to it.

"I've had parents thank me," said Mr Young, "because they know it's not part of my job".

Heather who was out collecting her grandson Finn said she thinks he's "doing a great job" but admitted there are probably other things he could be doing "inside school".

Finn said he found it hard to decide if he was a better teacher or lollipop man but plumped for teacher in the end.

But it isn't something Tony Young wants to do long term and he's made that clear to the Education Authority.

He said the only thing that annoys him is that they "could have had this in place over a month ago and the children would have been crossing the road safely".