Bury's 'first lollipop lady' dies after being hit by van on road she campaigned to make safer

An 87-year-old former lollipop lady died after she was hit by a van on a road she had campaigned to make safer.

Irene Allen was taken to hospital with serious head injuries after being hit by a van on Walmersley Road in Bury, on Tuesday 6 December 2022.

She never regained consciousness and died five days later, on 11 December.

Police are investigating and have urged anyone with footage from the area in the moments leading up to and before the collision to come forward.

Irene’s daughter Melanie has now paid tribute to her mother, who was the “first lollipop lady in Bury”.

Melanie noted the “tragic irony” of the location of the collision, as her mother campaigned for safer crossings for school children on Walmersley Road in the 1960s.

She also said the family will miss her "sunny personality".

Melanie, said: "Irene was a much loved ex-medical receptionist at Ribblesdale House and AgeUK Jubilee Centre committee member.

"Irene, a keen walker and Rawtenstall Cricket fan, leaves behind a daughter and three grandchildren and a whole community who miss her sunny personality.

"Always putting others before herself, in the mid 1960’s Irene complained to Bury Council about the lack of safe crossings for school children across the busy Walmersley Road, and became the newsworthy first lollipop lady in Bury.

"This tragic irony sits with us today."

Greater Manchester Police are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have footage, including dashcam, mobile phone or CCTV/doorbell footage from the area in the moments leading up to and before the collision took place.

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 4741 quoting incident 1115 of 06/12/22.

Alternatively, details can be passed via the LiveChat function at www.gmp.police.uk or anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A man who was arrested at the scene has been released under investigation.