WHAT coat burns? A blazer of course!

That’s just one of the jokes that won a school lollipop lady votes in a national competition.

Sue Brown has just been named favourite lollipop person in the region after she was nominated by children at Middleton Cheney Primary School.

Every morning and afternoon, come rain or shine, Mrs Brown dons her white coat, grabs her metal lollipop, tells a few jokes and makes sure children cross Main Road safely.

She was up against six other lollipop men and women, from as far away as Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, to win the accolade.

Pupils at Middleton Cheney Primary School wrote letters and drew pictures explaining to judges exactly why Mrs Brown should win.

Headteacher Philip Percival said Mrs Brown, 59, also a teaching assistant, was well-known around the school for her “terrible jokes”.

He said: “Sue is a vital part of the school community and is always there with a smile, and usually a terrible joke. We’re proud to have her as our lollipop lady.

“The children really enjoyed taking part and we think Sue thoroughly deserves her title as the best lollipop person in the East Midlands.”

Mrs Brown, of Daimler Avenue, Banbury, has been the school’s lollipop lady for four years and has no plans to hang up her fluorescent jacket and metal lollipop.

She said: “When I’m with the children, we talk about things and I usually tell a joke and make them laugh.

“It was very kind of the children to nominate me. I really appreciate it.

“It’s nice to know I’m quite popular with them and they take notice. I’m chuffed to bits with it.”

She said it was the first time she had won anything like it, and has yet to decide how to spend her £100 prize money.

The school also received £500.

Mother-of-two Mrs Brown will now go forward to the UK final next month to compete against 11 other finalists for the lollipop person of the year title.

The winner will get £500 and the school £3,000. Now in its eighth year, the annual awards recognise the hard work and dedication of the men and woman who patrol the UK’s school crossings on a daily basis, whatever the weather.

June Lynch, managing director of sponsors Kwik-Fit Financial Services, said: “It was immediately clear from the entries we received just how much Sue is loved and valued by the whole of Middleton Cheney Primary School.

“This competition is all about finding the lollipop people who make a real difference in their communities by keeping children safe on the roads, and Sue is a worthy winner.”

More than 10,000 schools across the UK took part in the contest.