A lollipop man has hung up his fluorescent jacket for the last time after being threatened with suspension for giving children high fives.

Bob Slade, 65, has spent four years making sure youngsters cross the road safely outside the school gates.

But he has resigned after officials at Plymouth city council threatened him with four weeks' suspension for greeting children with a cheery hand slap.

He was told the hand gesture was inappropriate – because he should be holding his lollipop with one hand and using the other to signal traffic.

They also said lollipop men and women's "full attention must be on the road and they must watch the traffic closely at all times".

Slade, of Plymouth, Devon, said he had already stopped high-fiving kids following an earlier warning – but was so fed up he had now quit the role.

He said: "I really enjoyed the job. I have been doing it for more than four years without a single accident. When I got the job they told me to make contact with the kids and be friendly.

"But then they changed their minds and I stopped high-fiving them earlier in the year because they told me to stop.

"They also said I was going out into the road without looking properly. They said they would suspend me for four weeks but I said I would rather leave.

"I appreciate the support of the parents but I won't be going back again. This is the end of it now."

Bob worked at Plymouth's Devonport Dockyard for 45 years before taking up his position at Manadon Vale primary school in 2009, helping children cross a busy junction.

Parents – who were told Slade had resigned for personal reasons – have criticised the situation as ridiculous.

Gary Hay, 46, a father of two and mental health worker, said: "He was a lovely man and the kids loved him. There was always a great atmosphere in the morning and he made every individual child feel special.

"There's no one on the road now which is worrying as it's quite a dangerous crossing. It's a shame he's been penalised as he did his job so well – his priority was to keep the kids safe, which he always did."

Penny Boom, 39, a sales assistant who has one child at the school, said: "Everyone seems to be pretty shocked by his resignation as he was so well loved.

"All the children would look forward to seeing him in the morning and afternoon and parents would encourage their children to high-five him as they crossed. As a result of health and safety concerns we've been left with no one to patrol the crossing."

A Plymouth city council spokesperson said: "We take the safety of children very seriously and school crossing patrols exist to make sure children can cross roads as safely as possible. To do this they must hold out the lollipop with one arm and hold their other arm outstretched to signal that all traffic must stop, this is well established signalling that should be understood by all drivers.

"While patrols can be friendly, their full attention must be on the road and they must watch the traffic closely at all times. We will be recruiting to fill the school crossing patrol position at Manadon Vale primary school as quickly as possible."