COME rain or shine, lollipop lady Ann Adams has been helping children to cross a Winterbourne road for more than a decade.

Whether its pouring or boiling, village stalwart Mrs Adams has stood outside the gates of Elm Park Primary School for 10 years making sure hundreds of schoolchildren get to and from their lessons safely.

But now, 71-year-old Mrs Adams is preparing to stop traffic for the last time.

"I have enjoyed every minute of it," she told the Gazette. "But it will be nice to be able to go out somewhere for the day and not have to constantly look at the time.

"Everybody at the school has been lovely and made me feel like one of the family."

Mrs Adams is retiring tomorrow, when a special assembly will be held in her honour.

"I still keep thinking should I go as I will miss the job very much," she said.

"I have all the gear for whatever the weather and this week I have been soaked. But sometimes the summer is actually worse because I have to wear all the reflective clothes which get very hot.

"One of the best parts of the job is that all the children notice when I have new shoes on.

"It is a bit dangerous at times as some drivers do not always stop immediately but luckily enough I have never had any problems."

Elm Park headteacher Helean Hughes said of Mrs Adams: "She is part of the foundation of the school. She is out there every morning and evening come rain or shine.

"She is quite a character and a replacement for her will be hard to find. We will all miss her greatly."