Retained fire fighters from the Williton station, along with the Somerset County Council Road Safety Partnership team, are helping local primary school children to be seen and keep safe on the county's roads.

Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service Community Safety Officer, Bob Telfer, for the Bridgewater group in West Somerset, is keen to highlight the importance of children keeping safe on the rural roads. Bob said: "Many of the children in rural locations, like Williton, have to walk or cycle along country lanes to get to school, so making sure they are highly visible is essential."

The fire fighters, along with the Somerset Road Safety Partnership, ill be attending the school and handing out specially designed road safety packs. Each pack will contain a high visibility reflective top, road safety advice and activity book and some additional road safety information for adults.

Bob continued to say: "This is the first stage of the children's road safety education from the fire service and council. We are planning to take them through their cycling proficiency tests, which will be run by the retained fire fighters from Williton station. We aim to see all those children involved wearing a high visibility top whether walking, cycling or horse riding."

Over 100 children, from ages 5 to 9 years, will benefit from the road safety packs, which were made up by the Avon and Somerset Probation Area unpaid work unit based in Taunton.

Notes to editors

The packs will be handed out on 6th June at the following locations:

• Old Cleeve, Cof E Primary School, Washford. 6th June at 10am
• Stogumber VC CofE Primary School, Stogumber. 6th June at 11.30

Photo opportunities will be available.

For further information contact Bob Telfer on 01823 365361.