PARENTS and children bade farewell to a ‘much-loved and respected’ lollipop lady today, who stepped down from her post helping pedestrians cross a busy Tavistock road safely.

Lesley Coleman had been stopping traffic on the busy Callington Road before and after school for more than seven years, greeting all the children by name and giving a friendly wave to the drivers who passed her. She left the post on Friday, due to moving away from the town.

Julie Jillians, whose daughter attends Tavistock Primary School and uses the crossing patrolled by Lesley on a daily basis, said the parents were all sad to see her go.

She said: ‘She is a great lollipop lady who’s done such a great job. She’s going to be deeply missed. She always goes the extra mile and knows all the children by name. She’s kind and caring, a big character and we’ve really valued her.’

Julie said Lesley had made such an impact on her daughter Abbi that she had often dressed up as a lollipop lady when playing.

‘All the kids love her and respect her,’ she said.

Headteacher at Tavistock Primary School Lynnette Selbie said: ‘Tavistock Primary School and Nursery want to express thanks to Lesley for her friendly and dedicated service to the school and the local community.’

During her last days on the job Lesley wore an old uniform and filled her pockets with marker pens so that the children could all write farewell messages on her outfit as a keepsake.