A PORT mum has told how her new job keeping kids safe walking to school has helped her battle back to health following a freak accident which left her badly injured.

Former care worker Joyce Bryan was left with a shattered left leg after falling off her daughter's hover board.

It has taken her two years to make a recovery.

Now she is rebuilding her life and getting back to work as a school crossing patroller.

The 41-year-old is one of the people recruited by Inverclyde Council to join the pool of much loved lollipop ladies and men across the area.

Mum-of-two Joyce, who lives in Milton Road, said: "This new job has really saved me.

"I had a really bad accident after falling from my daughter's segway.

"I couldn't believe it happened.

"My left leg was broken in five places and I had to have it rebuilt.

"I was unable to get out of my bed for four months because of it."

Joyce, is married to husband Patrick and has two children - Patrick, 15, and daughter Abbie, 12.

She had a fixator put on her leg to keep the bones in place after her horrific accident.

She faced months of rehabilitation but was able to see light at the end of the tunnel when she started her crossing patrol job earlier this year.

Joyce helps children from the high schools, as well as St Francis' Primary pupils, while standing guard on Kilmacolm Road at the Arran Avenue junction.

She said: "I absolutely love it, the kids are wee characters.

"I like hearing all their chat and I know most of them as well which helps."

The new recruit says a school crossing patrol has been an ideal way of getting back into work for her.

Joyce added: "Getting out into the fresh air and meeting people has worked wonders for me.

"You get to talk to lots of different people.

"It is also close to my house and is the perfect job in so many ways.

"I would encourage anyone looking to get back to work or something that suits their circumstances to give it a go."

Inverclyde Council currently has a recruitment campaign in place to attract more people to cover 33 patrol sites across the district.

The council is looking to bolster its ranks following a number of recent retirements and is looking for people of all ages and from all different backgrounds to apply for a sessional post to help fill gaps in cover throughout Inverclyde.

Although the average age of patrollers is 65, in Inverclyde they range from 23 to 84.

Councillor Jim Clocherty said: “It’s excellent to see greater diversity in these roles with people of all ages and backgrounds getting involved and finding something which suits their circumstances, like Joyce.

"I hope others out there who may be interested in becoming a school crossing patroller take inspiration from Joyce and apply.”