A LOLLIPOP man is being left stranded in the middle of the road while motorists drive around him.

John Ramsden, aged 69, has been serving Clevelands Preparatory School, on Chorley New Road, Bolton, for six years and is often forced to confront drivers who do not stop and continue to drive past as if he does not exist.

He spends an hour each weekday morning and afternoon guiding children as young as four years old across the busy main road, but even that does not bring the motorists to a halt.

Mr Ramsden, of Camrose Gardens, Bolton, said: "About 100 cars a minute along this road and it's a skill to stop them.

"I have to choose which car I'm going to stop, then hold out my stick before stepping into the road.

"But most days I come across drivers who are in too much of a rush to get to work to stop."

On several occasions the crossing attendant has witnessed drivers swerving on to the curb to avoid stopping. He said: "Monday mornings and Friday afternoons are the busiest times and usually when I get most abuse from impatient drivers.

"I have been a few near misses and it's dangerous for the people crossing."

And the worst culprits?

"Surprisingly, I find people my own age are the worst. I also think women in blue cars have a grudge against me. People don't seem to realise they could be fined up to £1,000 and get three points on their licence for not stopping.

"When someone fails to stop I have to get as many details as I can and if possible a witness to have any chance of prosecuting.

"They also think I shouldn't be crossing adults, but the law changed in 2001 allowing us to do just that." Astley Bridge councillor Stuart Lever said: "It's absolutely stupid.

"People should stop because there are kids flying around the place.

"It only takes a child to dash out when the lollipop man goes into the road -- if a car decided not to stop at the same time, then you've got an accident."

Cllr Lever has written to traffic officers at Castle Street Police Station in Bolton.

He told officers that he regularly sees cars ignoring the crossing patrol attendant when he takes his daughter to school.

Glynis Mitchell, headteacher at Clevelands, said: "The drivers who don't stop are very irresponsible and are putting children's lives at risk. It could result in a very serious accident and they would be left with that on their conscience."

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "Unfortunately it is a problem that we do encounter a some sites.

"Most drivers are respectful, but but there are the odd ones that go through.

"Anyone who fails to stop is committing an offence. We ask the lollipop wardens to take down their details, which we then pass on to the police and have had a number of successful prosecutions over the last few years."