SEVERAL generations of villagers turned out to say farewell to their local ‘lollipop lady’.

Jean Bennett first helped children at Churcham to cross the busy A40 in 1978 and has been the school crossing patrol outside the village school for 37 years.

Dozens of people, including current pupils at Churcham Primary School, parents and grandparents, attended a farewell party organised by the clerk to Churcham Parish Council, Marilyn King, on Saturday afternoon.

Children who she helped across the road in the past now have youngsters of their own.

Mrs Bennett is stepping down because only a handful of children now use the crossing.

She said: “There are only three who come with their parents so they don’t need me. It’s a shame because it’s a nice little job.

“I’ve got lots of lovely memories but it’s so different to when I started.

“The road is better now because there are two parts – when the cars could pass each other it was dangerous.”

Although Mrs Bennett is stepping down as the crossing patrol, she will be keeping busy as she lives on a farm.