dedicated lollipop lady Karen Bainbridge never missed a single one of 1,700 shifts.

Now she and her colleagues in East Cleveland have been thanked for their attendance record.

During the summer term the East Cleveland school crossing patrol team had a 99 per cent coverage of the 74 crossings serving 56 schools, staffed mornings and afternoons - a total of 11,100 shifts.

Many of the 100 full and part-time officers can boast super service - none better than Mrs Bainbridge who has clocked up 1,700 shifts since 1998 without missing a single one.

Mrs Bainbridge, a former dinner lady, patrols the busy trunk road in Eston, helping children to and from Beech Grove, St Peter's and St Andrew's schools. She started working as a lollipop lady 12 years ago.

She said: "I didn't know I'd done that many, I just get up and go to work. I enjoy it. We've got a lovely bunch who cross, they appreciate us and it's nice."

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council road safety officer Mike Hall said: "When we looked at the statistics for the summer term, we realised what a great job these patrol officers do. To miss just one per cent of 11,100 shifts is a tremendous achievement. We're proud of every one of them.

"But of course, Karen's attendance record is something else."

Details about joining the patrol team are available from Mr Hall on (01287) 612368.