Roadside guardian hangs up hi-vis jacket after accident horror

A MUCH loved lollipop lady has resigned from her post after being mown down by rogue drivers for the last time.

Veteran roadside stalwart, Dora Cefndy has been guiding youngsters across one of Rhyl on Sea's most dangerous thoroughfares for more than two decades but finally decided to throw in the towel after her 19th hospitalisation.

The fluorescent jacketed 66 year old was hit by a rogue window cleaner yesterday morning as she escorted a group of abusive teens over Asaph Avenue.

She has previously been hit by seven bread vans, four milk floats, two buses, a Dutch lorry and four children on bicycles.

Last year, Dora featured in the Seaside News when she was set alight by delinquent 11 year olds celebrating their end of year exams.

Speaking from her hospital bed, the grandmother of 12 recalled, "I've loved my job since I started, but I just can't take it any more.
"My life's work has been to look after the little ones and see them safely to and from the school gates. Negotiating the traffic has become more and more difficult over the years and I think that this is the final straw.
"Rhyl on Sea has changed immeasurably since I took up the post and I think the biggest difference came when they dug up the trees and converted Asaph Avenue into a six lane carriageway.
"But times change and apparently we're a Gateway to Wales now."

Petitions sent to the council, asking for a pedestrian crossing near the school have failed to bear fruit due to lack of cash and the intrepid lollipop lady daily braves traffic travelling at up to 120mph in order to convey her charges to their destination.
"I remember the first time I ever got knocked down on that road," she remembered fondly. "It was in 1992 and I had stopped in the road to give some toffees to the sweet little children.
"But I didn't see the HGV and the driver, who had been driving all night after drinking 12 cans of Red Bull and a selection of amphetamines, didn't see me.
"Or if he did, perhaps he thought he was hallucinating. Poor lamb."
Both of Dora's legs were shattered in the accident and she lost the sight in her left eye.
"It gets easier after the first time," she said.

A council spokesman released a statement saying, "Mrs Cefndy will be missed by all of the children and staff at the school. "We will be advertising for a replacement as soon as she returns the high visibility jacket."