A fifth of all Oxfordshire's school crossings are unmanned due to a chronic shortage of patrol staff. Nigel Hanson spoke to four mothers taking their children to Church Cowley School in Cowley, where parents say there is a desperate need for someone to help their children across the road

'There should definitely be a crossing. The cars come hurtling down here. The lollipop lady left at Easter and hasn't been replaced. Unfortunately, she used to get a lot of verbal abuse from drivers. They weren't very nice to her.'

Alison Souch, of Bailey Road, taking Luke, six, to school

'The children need someone here. It's such a busy road, it gets really chaotic. Perhaps with a lollipop lady, parents would feel happy to let children walk to school on their own.'

Debbie Chapman, of Gerard Place, Oxford, whose daughter Katie, six, is at Church Cowley, and her son, Carl, nine, is at Temple Cowley.

'It's down to Oxfordshire County Council to give us a lollipop crossing here. Even when there is a group of children and parents waiting to cross, the cars don't slow down. The drivers are inconsiderate.'

Tracie Macklin-Carr, whose five-year-old daughter, Tanisha, attends Church Cowley School

'The situation can only get worse now that the school plans to add two extra years for nine- to eleven-year-olds. There will be even more traffic. Someone should be employed straightaway to help the children cross.'

Nicki Payne, of St Luke's Road, Oxford, taking daughters Alice, seven, and Lois, six, to school