The pressing concern of Catherine Goodridge is not about buildings, equipment or staff levels but the subject of keeping her pupils safe.

Put another way, making sure they don't get killed or maimed as they cross North Street to get to St Anne's Primary School. She just wants her children to be safe.

Surely that is a reasonable request and a solution shouldn't be beyond the powers that be.

Bradford Council, which is responsible for crossing patrols, has an explanation for the problem and says parents or carers should take responsibility.

The parents have put forward their reasons why they can't take up the temporary job.

The police too have put forward their point of view.

A statement has also been issued saying why a woman who has volunteered to do it can't do it. The woman, a former lollipop lady, can lead the children across the road by hand as a mother would, but she cannot stop the traffic as she would be personally liable if anything happened to a child after she stepped into the road.

Another classic case of finding reasons why it can't be done rather than why it can be done.

While this farce continues, we would appeal to drivers to be patient and courteous and let the children cross the road.

It's enough to make Tufty swear

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.