Audrey Elliot says she is 'disappointed' with the ban

Villagers have reacted with disbelief after their lollipop lady was banned from wearing a hat that she had personalised with charity badges.

Audrey Elliot wanted to make her role more colourful, but Derbyshire County Council says the badges stopped her getting the respect of drivers.

The authority has forbidden her from wearing the hat when she is on duty in the village of Borrowash.

She said: "I'm very upset for the children.

Drivers' respect

"I'm a professional, as we all are who do this job - I love it, I get on well with the kids and parents and they are the ones who are disappointed, as much as I am."

The villagers say the council managers are just being killjoys.

Many of them say the children love Audrey Elliot's customised hat, it makes her more noticeable - and even the motorists like her.