Who'd be a lollipop person?

Not someone with a huge head and a thin body (name most current female celebrities) but rather one of the people who makes sure kids across the country get to school safely.

Would you fancy stepping out onto our roads?

They get a big stick and a high vis jacket - frankly I'd be looking for an armed escort and a great big JCB before I ventured out with my hand up to halt traffic.

Around the country there are a shortage of men and women who are willing to do the job?

And there's one less thanks to the good burghers of Plymouth City Council.

Amongst that band of fine men and women dedicated to serving the public in the Devon city are a few who may want to take a look at themselves.

But why should these hard-working selfless servants of you and I come in for eve a smidgen of disapprobation?

Well they threatened to suspend pensioner Bob Slade from his crossing patrol duties.

What was Bob's rampant rule-breaking that forced such action? Foul language plastered on his lollipop? Halting traffic with two fingers?

Sadly not. High-fiving children - oh yes.

I'll leave in the council's answer to why Bob felt the need to chuck in the towel (or lollipop).

A council spokesperson said: "We take the safety of children very seriously and school crossing patrols exist to make sure children can cross roads as safely as  possible.

"To do this they must hold out the  lollipop with one arm and hold their other arm outstretched to signal that all traffic must stop - this is well established signalling that should be understood by all drivers.

"While patrols can be friendly, their full attention must be on the road and they must watch the traffic closely at all times.

"It (high-fiving) was one of a number of safety issues raised with the school crossing patrol before he made the decision to resign."