A DRIVER has been fined for narrowly avoiding a lollipop lady as she helped children cross the road.

The motorist was also given points on his licence at Northallerton Magistrates Court after he swerved around the woman earlier this year, driving onto the wrong side of the road.

North Yorkshire County Council’s road safety team, along with North Yorkshire Police, are now calling on motorists to remember their responsibilities towards road safety, especially around children.

Motorists are being warned that patrols are trained never to hold up traffic for longer than is absolutely necessary, but motorists must be patient with them, as they will always wait until the last pedestrian has reached the opposite footway before they leave their position. It is an offence under the Road Traffic Act not to obey the stop sign.

County Councillor Gareth Dadd, North Yorkshire’s executive member for Highways, said: "We urge motorists to respect North Yorkshire's school crossing patrol team and give them the time to do their job safely.

“These men and women do a really crucial job at .around sixty sites across the county, protecting our school children as they cross busy roads. Motorists who fail to stop are putting lives at risk.”