THOUSANDS of leaflets are to be sent to homes appealing for people to man school crossing patrols left without cover for more than a year.

Council bosses hope the new approach will find would-be lollipop men and women ready to work before and after school to help children cross the road.

With the end of the school year approaching, Lancashire County Council - which also provides school crossing staff in the Blackburn with Darwen area -- has been hit with a string of vacancies.

And it is still struggling to fill some vacancies which first appeared last year.

The authority today revealed it has been trying to recruit a permanent member of staff to work on Helmshore Road and Broadway in Haslingden since July last year.

In Chorley, a crossing at Lyons Lane and Cavendish Street has been vacant since December last year.

Two posts in Longridge, at the Stonebridge roundabout, have been vacant since May this year.

A second post in Haslingden, at Helmshore Rd/East Bank Ave, has been advertised since last month.

Two crossings in Blackburn, at Birley Street, Daisyfield, and Livesey Branch Road, have needed filling since last month too.

And the most recent additions to the vacant list are in Haslingden Old Road, Rawtenstall, and Bolton Road North, Stubbins.

Ken Speak, manager for the Lancashire School Crossing Patrol Service, said: "Our plan is to leaflet homes in the areas around these patrols.

"We desperately need to fill these vacancies.

"Where possible, we put relief patrols in place, but that isn't possible at every site.

"We would urge anyone who has the time before and after school to consider doing it."

Irene Reid, who crosses children from Longridge CE Primary School, has been doing the job for 35 years.

She said: "I don't think there's a secret to being a good lollipop person

" As long as you get on with children and the general public, you're okay.

"It's an enjoyable job and you feel part of the community. People really appreciate what you do.

"Even drivers, who always seem in a hurry these days, don't mind stopping when they see the lollipop."

Crossing patrol staff get paid £5.45 an hour, receive four weeks paid holiday and half-pay retainer during the rest of the school holidays.

Anyone interested should call Ken Speak on 01772 646810 or visit the website www.serving.lancashire.gov.uk for more information.