Town’s new lollipop lady steps in to help keep children safe

Children and their parents using one of a market town's busiest roads to get to and from school will now be able to cross safely under the protection of a new lollipop lady.

Serving as a link road between Frenze Hall Lane and Victoria Road, Skelton Road, in Diss, is one of the town's busiest roads.

Traffic on the road has increased significantly in recent months due to road closures elsewhere in the town and works traffic from the nearby Frenze Hall Lane housing development, which is currently being built.

However, despite lying between two primary schools and being used by dozens of school children and their parents everyday, for the last four years the road has been without a school crossing patrol.

That is, until now, as, much to the relief of parents and pupils, Debbie Kilkenny, a senior midday supervisor at the Diss Infant and Junior School has decided to become the road's new lollipop lady.

As of Monday, March 12, Mrs Kilkenny, who has worked at Diss Infant School for more than 20 years has been helping parents and children cross the road before and after school.

The 54-year-old explained why she had decided to take the role: 'It's been four years without one and it's a long time, but half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the afternoon is a difficult time of the day for lot's of

people.

'I've been toying with the idea for sometime and then I thought that because of the traffic from building works in Frenze Hall Lane, I thought it's just going to get busier.

And despite only being in the role a few days Mrs Kilkenny said she had already noticed the mornings where the busiest time of day.

And after four years parents have been pleased to once again see a lollipop lady on the road. Mum Katie Glover said: 'We're pleased it's back.'

Another parent, Kelly, said: 'I'm very pleased its back, you where taking your life into your own hands, so of course it's excellent, it was too long without one.'