LOLLIPOP patrols are switching on to a new safety jacket, which lights up in bad weather conditions.

Mike Hall, road safety officer for Redcar and Cleveland Council, said patrols had been given a set of Safelite jackets for its school crossing patrol officers to road-test.

They have been given to the patrols after Colin Mason, chief executive of Aerosafe, based at Bristol Airport, heard Mr Hall talking on national radio about the council's campaign targeting "lollipop rage" motorists.

He thought the jackets, designed to give added visual protection to aircraft marshallers, might be of help.

"Lollipop rage" is now a recognised problem in the Redcar and Cleveland area, with motorists flinging coins and empty sandwich boxes at the school crossing patrols.

Wardens have now been given help to cope with the stress caused by abusive drivers.

Mr Mason said: "The need was to give added visual protection to the aircraft marshallers, as in the dark and adverse weather, pilots had great difficulty finding them.

"We hope they can improve safety for your officers too."

Mr Hall said: "We are always on the look-out for innovative and safety conscious ideas to protect our staff, especially in the bad weather."