A county council committee voted today to keep school crossing patrols – landing officers with the job of finding the £171,000 a year axing them would have saved.

The highways and community infrastructure committee agreed to keep the ‘lollipop ladies’ following a recommendation put forward by Conservative councillor Steve Criswell.

He was supported by Labour and Lib Dems and UKIP’s Peter Reeves also welcomed the proposals to withdraw school crossing patrols from the budget saving proposals.

Councillor Roger Hickford, the committee chairman, also welcomed proposals to retain the crossing patrols.

Last month the county was warned that 1,000 young people’s lives will be put at risk if an idea to cut funding for school crossing patrols is given the go ahead.

Parents launched a petition against budget slashing measures by Cambridgeshire County Council.

Naomi Church, a governor at St Mary’s Junior School in Ely, where the petition has started, said: “We are shocked at proposals to take away funding.

“We understand the county is under serious budget threats but cutting at the very basic level is wrong.

“The county council has a responsibility on a safeguarding level that includes getting children to and from school safely.”