PARENTS are planning to stage a banner-waving protest in a bid to put the Christmas sparkle back on to a Hampshire school crossing patrol officer’s lollipop.

As revealed in yesterday’s Daily Echo, Kevin Simpson, pictured, was ordered to remove tinsel from his lollipop for health and safety reasons after an anonymous passer-by complained to bosses. Now parents, incensed over the ban, are set to stage a demonstration on Friday, near the Maunsell Way crossing, in a bid to get the yuletide sparkle put back.

The 45-year-old lollipop man says that support from parents at Hedge End’s Berrywood Primary School has been growing.

He said: “Passing motorists have also been hooting their horns in support. I think councils should give a little bit of leeway during the festive season.

“It is just a fun goodwill gesture and on these miserable winter mornings it does light up the children’s faces.”

If the tinsel ban is not lifted, Kevin says that he plans to put tinsel round his neck and the lollipop on the last day before the school breaks up for Christmas.