A lollipop man hired to protect primary school children cross a busy junction says he is ignored by reckless drivers about four times a day, prompting the council to consider arming staff with cameras.

Chris Dillon, the school crossing patrol officer outside Hackbridge Primary School, has seen 80 drive-through incidents in the past four weeks, where drivers ignored him and failed to stop as he tried to safely usher children as young as five across Hackbridge Road.

He has also been the subject of abuse from angry drivers six times during this time.

The 60-year-old works about an hour in the morning and an hour and a half in the afternoon, Monday to Friday, so is seeing such incidents more than once an hour.

Lollipop staff working near schools in other areas have reprted similar experiences.

In response Sutton Council is considering issuing body cameras to its staff Mr Dillon said: "I do a very important job as the safety of children is at stake. It is unpleasant to be ignored by drivers, and it is unacceptable that on occasion I have been sworn at by drivers within earshot of the children.

"In the past month alone have experienced dozens of drivers failing to stop when I stand in the middle of the road. Such reckless behaviour has real safety implications for the children. Most people are lovely but this minority of drivers is putting children’s lives at risk."

Mr Dillon, who has worked as a lollipop man in Hackbridge since last September, believes that some drivers ignore him as they do not see him as an authority figure and are happy to break the speed limit for the area.

He said: "They think I am just a man with a lollipop and that they don’t have to stop because I’m not a policeman. On occasion some drivers pass the school in excess of 35 or 40mph."

The Highway Code states drivers must drive very slowly near schools, be particularly aware of young pedestrians and that they must stop when a lollipop man shows a ‘Stop for Children’ sign.

Councillor Jill Whitehead, chairwoman of the Environment and Neighbourhood Committee at Sutton Council, said: "It is outrageous that drivers in the borough are putting at risk the lives of schoolchildren by failing to stop when lollipop men are escorting them across the road to and from school. That some drivers are also being abusive to our crossing patrol officers when doing their job is also unacceptable.

"As a council we are looking seriously at providing our lollipop men and women with body cameras to deter unacceptable and abusive behaviour and can record any when it occurs. We would also remind drivers that they must obey the Highway Code and drive slowly when passing schools in the borough."