PETER Mathieson was such a good lollipop man that he could only be replaced with new technology when he retired.

That's what the children of St Bede's RC Primary School, in Darlington, were told yesterday at Mr Mathieson's farewell assembly.

Mr Mathieson had recently become nervous of traffic speeding down the town's Kingsway road and decided to retire from the job after more than a decade.

The council installed a puffin crossing rather than replace him.

Clare Taylor, the school's headteacher, said: "No one could follow in Peter's footsteps. He has hardly missed a day in ten years.

"The parents will miss him very much because he has seen many of their kids grow up and kept them safe. They raised £160 for him along with a hamper as a reward."

Norman Sheppard, road safety officer at Darlington Borough Council, told the children the reason the new crossing was being installed was because a different lollipop man could not do the job as well as Mr Mathieson.

Not everyone is happy with Mr Mathieson's replacement. A local couple say they were not told about the crossing near their home.

Tessa and Colin Moss, of Boston Close, say the crossing's lights are clearly visible from their lounge and kitchen.

Mr Moss said: "The council have not replied to any of our letters or phone calls. I think the traffic lights have definitely devalued out property."

A council spokesman said: "We have real problems recruiting lollipop people and we have to make sure children can get to and from school safely.

"We did a consultation and all of the houses would have been taken into consideration."