It is one small step for a road safety officer and one giant leap for lollipop ladies

Kevin Galloway, Worcestershire County Counci

Since 1993 he has bombarded MPs with letters about the issue, and continued to put pressure on officials.

Mr Woodward's proposals, which will allow anyone to use the help of a crossing warden, have finally been included in the Transport Bill.

The Bill is currently going through the House of Lords and is expected to become law soon.

Mr Woodward, 56, county road safety officer for Worcestershire County Council, said: "I was stonewalled by department after department, saying it was a good idea, but they had more important things to do.

'I made a difference'

"It was a long, drawn-out affair, but a number of MPs said they would consider putting this through as a private member's Bill, before it was picked up by Worcester MP Mike Foster."

The Labour MP's bill did not become law, but Mr Foster managed to persuade Transport Minister Keith Hill to include the proposals in the Transport Bill.

Mr Woodward, a father-of-three from Redditch, Worcestershire, said: "I was sitting watching the debate (in Parliament) on TV, thinking that was my Bill, and that I made a difference."

Worcestershire County Council spokesman Kevin Galloway, who has been helping Mr Woodward publicise his cause, said: "It is one small step for a road safety officer and one giant leap for lollipop ladies.

"If it saves one life it has been worth it."