Hampshire County Council is calling on Locks Heath school children, parents and school staff to nominate who they think should be the 2010 School Crossing Patrol (lollipop person) of the Year.

There are 259 school crossing patrols in Hampshire – excluding Portsmouth and Southampton. There are 40 in total in the Fareham district, 12 lollipop people in the Western Wards.

What do you think of your school’s lollipop lady or man?

One finalist will be selected from each of the County Council’s eleven districts to go through to the School Crossing Patrol of the Year Final. Thanks to sponsorship from the design and web agency Escape the winning finalist will receive a £500 John Lewis voucher, and awarded the title of Hampshire School Crossing Patrol of the Year. Each runner-up finalist with a £25 voucher together with a personalised glass trophy and certificate.

All finalists, along with their nominators and representatives from their school will be invited to the awards ceremony being held on Wednesday 23 June.

No children have been killed or seriously injured in the Fareham District in the last year, although  there were 13 recorded slight injuries. School Crossing Patrols work towards meeting Hampshire County Council’s government targets to halve the number of child deaths and serious injuries in road accidents by the end of 2010.

To nominate your favourite school crossing patrol just tell us Hampshire County Council why your favourite lollipop person should win?

You can enter online here or by post using a nomination form(photocopies are accepted).Please send your entries to:

SCP Competition,

Road Safety, Environment Department,

Hampshire County Council,

The Castle,

Winchester,

Hampshire

SO23 8UD.

The deadline for all entries is 21st May 2010

Last year’s winner was Eastleigh lollipop man David Cottrell. Mr Cottrell patrols the Botley/Pavilion Close junction in Fair Oak, near to Fair Oak Infant and Junior School. He won with this entry from Fair Oak Infant school pupil, Sophie:

"There is a very special lollipop man,

He goes by the name of Dave,

The road is very busy, So he must be very brave,

No matter what the weather is,

He will always smile and wave.

He keeps us safe as we cross the road,

Our favourite lollipop man Dave!"

- by Sophie, aged 6 from Fair Oak Infant School