THE first campaign to help lollipop wardens in the country to deal with "lollipop rage" has been a success, according to organisers.

Last year, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council launched the campaign following concerns at the abuse school crossing patrol wardens were enduring on a daily basis.

The abuse ranged from foul language being yelled at them to items such as coins and even packed lunch boxes being hurled at them by furious and impatient motorists.

The council became the first in the country to recognise the problem and set up training courses for its 100 lollipop wardens, seeking advice from Cleveland Police and Cleveland Fire Brigade to help them to deal with the issue.

Now, the council says the scheme has been a great success - and even led to one angry driver in Marske, east Cleveland, going on a driver improvement course rather than face possible legal action.

Mike Hall, the council's road safety officer, said: "It has made a difference, people are a lot more courteous on the road.

"Having CCTV on most of the crossings has helped as well, because we are looking for potential offenders and the public is more aware of what is happening."

The training, which involved increasing staff awareness of health and safety issues, as well as changing laws, is to be renewed every six months.

In January, changes in the law meant that lollipop staff can escort people of all ages across the road, rather than just school children.

Mr Hall said: "At the end of the day, they are employees of the council and they should be treated no differently to anyone else. We wouldn't accept any form of abuse by the public for anyone else. They do the job because they love children."