PRIMARY schools in St Helens are without crossing patrols following staff resignations, the Star understands.

St Helens Council is currently recruiting for temporary school crossing patrol operatives for the Haydock, Blackbrook and Thatto Health areas.

The Star understands a number of workers have resigned after being told to find alternative employment due to the service being axed later this year.

In Haydock, Haydock English Martyrs’ Roman Catholic Primary School, Grange Valley and St James’ Church of England primary schools all confirmed they do not currently have a school crossing patrol.

It is also understood that Ashurst Primary School in Blackbrook is without one. The school declined to comment.

St Helens Council will stop funding the discretionary service, which operates at 39 designated school sites in the borough, from August 2018.

The council’s cabinet agreed to stop funding the service at its meeting in October as part of its bid to save £20.6 million by 2020.

Schools now have to decide whether to seek funding from elsewhere to keep their patrols for 2018-19.

Blackbrook St Mary’s and Thatto Heath primary schools said their crossing patrols will still be running from August.

Rainford’s will also be kept on.

Cllr Allan Jones, ward member for Rainford, said he and his fellow ward members have agreed with Rainford Parish Council to fund its crossing patrol operative from the next school year.

The Conservative councillor accused the Labour-run council of “putting children’s lives at risk” by cutting the service.

He said: “We are not prepared to put our children’s lives at risk. Unlike the Labour party who are cutting this service all over the borough.

“It will cost £137,000 to fund this service out of a budget of £300 million. How do you put a price on a child’s life?

“We got hold of the parish council and said we can’t let the crossing patrol in Rainford go, we have to decide to carry on funding it.

“We are not prepared to put our children’s lives at risk.”