A COMPANY has come forward to sponsor a school crossing patrol following Bromley Council’s decision to stop funding the service.

Foresters, a financial advice company based in Cromwell Avenue, Bromley, has offered to give Parish Church of England School £2,500 to help fund their crossing patrol from April.

The school will provide the other £2,500 needed to pay the lollipop person’s salary.

The move follows Bromley Council’s decision to withdraw the service across the borough from April to save £233,000.

The school in London Lane, Bromley has been without a patrol since the start of the school year after their old lollipop lady left after being told she would be made redundant.

Headteacher Hilary Richardson said:“It’s marvellous there’s a company out there willing to be in the community and to guarantee the children’s safety.

“The school is on a busy road so it’s not great we haven’t had anyone there this year. Parents have been sensible about it but it has caused disappointment.

“It’s such an important service for the community and for the safety of our children”

Foresters responded to an appeal from one of their members Jacqueline Penny, 55, of Bourne Vale, Hayes, who has a five-year-old grand-daughter at the school.

Foresters UK membership director Steve Dilworth said: “We believe this is a good cause, we understand the council has to look at how they spend their money but this is something which is at the very heart of safety for children and families, something we think is very important.

“We like to improve the community in which we operate and in which our members live.”

Other schools in the borough have been looking at ways of trying to save the service, but have not been as successful.

Parents at St George’s in Bickley are fighting to save long-serving lollipop lady Heather Ross but are feeling gloomy as fundraising attempts have so far been unsucessful and are facing losing their patrol altogether.