The planned reduction in the number of professional "lollipop ladies" in Hertfordshire looks set to be rubber-stamped by the county council this morning after receiving cabinet approval.

Members of Hertfordshire County Council ’s cabinet unanimously voted through the proposals to replace retiring staff with volunteers at 17 of the county’s 157 crossings.

This would include crossings at Bedmond Primary School, Leavesden Green Primary School and St Meryl School in Carpenders Park.

The service currently costs approximately £500,000 per year to operate but usage is too low at the sites identified, the county council has said.

Stuart Pile, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "This is not a statutory service, it is a discretionary service we have offered in Hertfordshire for many years.

"It is highly valued by us and is much loved by the public.

"We are not planning to remove any crossing patrol from these sites and expect them to continue for many years to come but if a vacancy occurs for any reason we will look at the options.

"In these tough financial times it is right to look at every service we provide."