By Sean Coughlan BBC News Online education staff

Lollipop men and women are disappearing from the streets - as councils struggle to find enough staff to provide even half the usual level of crossing patrols.

And this severe shortage of crossing patrols could be threatening the safety of children going to school.

There has been a sharp drop in recruitment - with a London authority saying that it can only provide crossing patrols for 40% of the roads that it would like to staff.

Theo Panayi, senior road safety officer for the London Borough of Barnet, says that this reflects the problems it faces in trying to recruit staff.

"We're trying to recruit all year - but it is proving very difficult to find people," he said, as the council tries to make good a 60% shortfall in crossing patrols.

This recruitment problem, which he says is affecting authorities across England, will be exacerbated by the ageing workforce, which will see many lollipop men and women approaching retirement.

School run

Among the reasons for people not applying, he suggests, is a mistaken belief that this is voluntary work.

In Barnet, working as a crossing patrol officer will earn around �6 per hour, with training and uniform provided.

Aggression from drivers towards crossing patrols could be another reason for recruitment difficulties in parts of London, he says.

The council has tried to find staff among parents and grandparents - but as with other public services, they are struggling to find people willing to apply.

As well as ensuring the safety of children, the lollipop men and women help reduce congestion during the school run, says Mr Panayi.

"If there is no crossing patrol, parents won't let their children walk to school, so they drive them - and that fills the roads with more vehicles, and it becomes a self-perpetuating problem."

Shortage is a national problem.