Longridge lollipop lady Irene Reid, 85, retires after 56 years

Lancashire’s longest-serving lollipop lady has announced her retirement after more than 56 years.

Irene Reid, 85, has been helping children cross roads safely on Berry Lane outside Longridge C of E Primary School since 1969.

Mrs Reid, who has previously received an MBE for her services to road safety, said local people had made her job so special over the years.

“I’ll be missing the children,” she said, “but it’s been 56-and-a-half years – don’t forget the half!”

Mrs Reid, who has 10 great-grandchildren, conceded it had been a tough decision to hang up her lollipop.

But she said: “You’ve got to be completely fit to look after other people’s children, and I know I’m not.”

She joked she would now “just stand there and glare at anyone else” doing the job.

“I didn’t really mind the weather, but I think it’s the wind that finally beat me,” she continued.

“It’s been so bad lately, it nearly blew me over. I had to hang on to a high-school boy!”

Mrs Reid even used to help the school’s deputy head teacher at the school, Carmen Dewhurst, when she was a pupil.

Mrs Dewhurst, whose own children have also been helped by Mrs Reid, said it was an “emotional” day to wave goodbye to the school stalwart.

“We all love her so, so much – she’s a massive part of our school family.

“All weathers, come rain or shine, wild weather or snow, she was always there and never let us down.

“She knows all of us, all our names, even as adults.”

Mrs Reid told BBC Radio Lancashire she plans to spend her retirement seeing more of her family and her granddaughter’s rescue dogs, as well as knitting and sewing.