ABUSIVE parents have driven away a primary school lollipop man.

He had been working outside St Martin’s Primary and Nursery School in Brighton but has been redeployed following abuse after he asked parents not to park illegally.

In recent weeks motorists have been spotted parking on the School ‘Keep Clear’ markings for up to 20 minutes and the details of six offenders have been passed on to police.

The school has named and shamed offenders by listing the registration numbers of cars parking illegally outside the school in Hartington Road in their most recent newsletter.

Parents were told in the newsletter this week of the school’s disappointment that its school crossing patrol officer had been withdrawn for the “immediate future”.

The school said Brighton and Hove City Council had decided to remove him following the “latest incident of abuse”.

In a separate letter sent out by the council’s cyclist training and school crossing patrol manager, parents were told retention of the school crossing patrol site was “under consideration for relocation” following a number of recent inspections. The council officer said there was “clear disregard” by parents of road safety outside the school, with some of them then becoming abusive to council staff when approached during inspections.

New traffic signs and flashing warning lights have recently been installed outside the school and council officers hope it will serve as a reminder to parents of “their need to improve parking behaviour”.

Parents were also told that “very few” pupils currently used the crossing and that there was greater demand outside schools elsewhere in the city.

One parent, who did not wish to be named, said: “I do feel it is a real shame that parents have been abusive to the patrol officer.

“I think parents who rely on him will be really upset by the news.

“At the end of the day it is the safety of the children that is paramount. It is really up to parents to be more sensible when parking to collect their children.”

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said: “The school crossing patrol officer previously based at St Martin’s Church of England School, Brighton, has been reallocated to another school following a review of the situation.

“There were a variety of reasons involved, including many parents choosing to cross the road at other locations rather than walking a short distance to the safest crossing point where they could be guided across by the officer, who also faced verbal abuse by some parents driving to the school.

“We are working with the school to find a way to address the issues raised and help keep pupils safe.”