A school crossing patrol has been axed because it is too dangerous for the lollipop man.

Tom Redwood dices with death each time he steps into the road with his yellow fluorescent coat and Stop! sign.

The pensioner has been knocked down, breaking his glasses, and has had to grab children to stop them being hit by cars countless times. Now the council has ruled the crossing at the junction with Miller's Road and Highcroft Villas, Brighton, is too dangerous for Mr Redwood on his own and tomorrow will be his last day.

It means children on their way to Stanford Junior and Infant School and Cardinal Newman School will have to fend for themselves. Parents, who say Mr Redwood, 72, has done an excellent job over the years, are calling for a pelican crossing at the junction and want a police officer on duty when youngsters are on their way to and from school.

A 1,000-signature petition will be presented to councillors at a full council meeting tonight from parents who have formed a group called the Stanford Crocodile. There is an incident almost every day when Mr Redwood, one of the most experienced crossing patrol officers in town with 17 years' experience, is on duty.

Recently a car deliberately drove round a crocodile line of children while he was seeing them across the road. But the retired builder just shouts "Thank you" at the offending drivers. He ignores any abuse.

Twice Brighton and Hove Council has told the pensioner it is too dangerous for one man at that spot but each time he has said: "I can't give up because of the children."

Now, after reporting two incidents in which he and children were nearly hit as cars ignored his actions, his boss, Brighton and Hove Council community safety officer Sam Scott, has ordered him away from that spot. There has been a school crossing patrol at the site for 20 years.

He will continue working at the job he loves as a relief patrol in other parts of Brighton and Hove, and there is a possibility he may be back at that spot in future with additional help.

John Lynch, head teacher of Stanford Junior School, said: "We are confused and devastated by this sudden withdrawal. The service is there for the safety of our children and many children going to and from this school will no longer have any cover from the service.

Peter Evans, head of Cardinal Newman School in Upper Drive, Hove, said: "It is always a shame to lose any safety feature which children are accustomed to."

Tracey Pengilly, who has two children at Stanford Junior School, said: "If it is too dangerous for an experienced patrolman, then what about the children? I only let my nine-year-old son, Jason, go to school on his own sometimes because I know Tom is there.

Jonathan Smith, who runs an after-school club for children in nearby Reigate Road, said: "I have seen Tom act very quickly to stop a child from being hit by a car because motorists have ignored him. It is a a highly dangerous crossing and with Tom going they will have to put in a pelican crossing."

Bob Clark, landlord of the nearby Dyke Tavern, who takes his son, Daniel, to and from Stanford Junior School each day, said: "It is dangerous here. It is like a blind corner. I have seen Tom grab hold of kids to stop them being knocked down."

Mr Redwood, who is backing the calls for a pelican crossing, said: "I'm concerned about the children's safety but enough is enough. You do get problems with the occasional driver at other spots in the Brighton area but it is nothing compared with what happens here."

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove Council said: "We always put our employees first.

"Tom has been doing a fantastic job there but we accept that crossing is too dangerous for one person to operate. He has always been a relief patrol and has never been designated to one spot. A short-term policy may be to have two patrols at the spot and we may ask parents if they want to help out after full training."

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