A furious councillor fears Essex County Council plans to withdraw funding for all crossing patrols.

The council already wants 55 of the county’s schools where there are zebra crossings or traffic lights nearby to stump up £5,860 to pay for lollipop men and women or face losing them.

Those set to be axed include patrols at Silver End Primary School and Kelvedon St Mary’s Primary School.

But now district and county councillor James Abbott claims a letter sent from County Hall to the affected schools says the whole school crossing patrol service will be reviewed in the long term.

He said: “I suspect what they’re going to try and do is say that if we are going to have school crossing patrols then somebody else must pay for them.

“It could be that what we’re seeing at the moment is a softening up exercise for going the whole hog.”

Essex County Council's cabinet member for highways, Rodney Bass, insists no decisions have been made.

To take part in the council’s consultation, visit essexinsight.org.uk/consultations