Lollilop men and ladies in west London are facing the axe under council proposals

A lollipop lady has been verbally abused by parents dropping their children off at school.

Gardai are now carrying out a series of random checks outside the school in a bid to stamp out incidents of "careless driving" and "parking in a dangerous manner".

In an official letter issued to parents of pupils of St Brigid's National School in Drogheda, Co Louth, the Community Policing Unit stated that that they have carried out a number of random checks in the last school year, and will continue to do so in the future.

The note was handed to pupils at the school.

It stated parents are "driving carelessly" and "parking in a dangerous manner" in bus lanes and on footpaths in close vicinity to the school.

The letter also claimed the traffic warden, who works in the area, has been subjected to verbal abuse on a number of occasions from a small minority of parents.

"Instances have occurred where the lollipop lady have been verbally abused by parents and also has had parents not obey her duties helping your children cross the road safely to school.

"Gardai have been present outside your children's school in the morning and afternoon in the last school year and have verbally warned parents about the dangers they are creating outside the school.

"This practice will take place again for this school year with random checks taking place by gardai."

Gardai have warned parents that they face on-the-spot fines.

"There is also the issue and the danger of allowing your children to travel to school sitting in the front seats of your cars and not ensuring your children are safely wearing safety belts on in the appropriate child seats."

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