AFTER helping primary school pupils in Wallingford to cross the road safely for 14 years, lollipop lady Evelyn McNulty has completed her twice-daily patrol for the final time.

Mrs McNulty, 68, has been staffing the crossing in Station Road, Wallingford, to help children from Fir Tree Junior School and St Nicholas Primary School to get to classes safely.

She has stood on the crossing whatever the weather, but in recent years has been struggling with arthritis and could not face another winter outdoors.

She said: “I have really loved this job, but the time has come for me to retire and hang up my lollipop.

“I have really enjoyed helping the children across the road twice a day.

“Unfortunately, I have been suffering rheumatoid arthritis and did not feel able to continue.”

Mrs McNulty said she got the job as lollipop lady at Fir Tree Junior School in Radnor Road 14 years ago when she saw an advertisement in the Oxford Mail’s sister paper the Wallingford Herald.

She was a long-serving dinner supervisor at Wallingford School until she left the role in 1993 to look after her sick mother Constance Wheeler, who died in 2005.

Mrs McNulty added: “I have worked for the county council for a total of 38 years.

“Some of the parents of pupils I see now at Fir Tree Junior School I used to know as pupils at Wallingford School.”

Mrs McNulty’s husband Bob McNulty died 17 years ago from a heart condition. He was 53.

Following a farewell reception in a school assembly on Friday, headteacher Nilofer Khan said: “We have got 174 pupils aged seven to 11 and they will all miss Mrs McNulty.

“She is so committed to the children and every Christmas she has given each class an advent calendar.

“She stood on that crossing whether it was raining or snowing but she couldn’t stand out there for another winter.

“All the kids and the staff will really miss her.”

April Jackson, 10, of Coopers Piece, Wallingford, said: “Mrs McNulty is always smiling and keeping me safe.”

Ross Beale, 10, of Blackstone Road, Wallingford, added: “She’s a great lollipop lady,” while Maisie Whiter, nine, of Coopers Piece, Wallingford, said: “She’s the nicest lollipop lady ever.”

Staff member Mary McRobbie, who is a trained crossing supervisor, will be lollipop lady until the county council completes its latest assessment of the crossing.