Youngsters across the district are being urged to Arrive Alive by a new version of the Highway Code aimed at keeping them safe on the roads.

Bradford Council is one of the first local authorities in the country to launch the new booklet which aims to take road safety information for young people into the 21st century by giving advice on everything from in-line skating and cycling to walking the dog, crossing the road and horse riding.

Produced by the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions, the booklet will be distributed to young people throughout the country.

Some youngsters in Bradford were among the first in the country to be given copies when the council's road safety unit launched Arrive Alive during a summer holiday playscheme at Baildon's Ferniehurst Primary School.

Val Orrell, the council's road safety manager, said: "It's a replacement for the Highway Code for Young Road Users which had been around for years and needed updating.

"It is important for children to know the rules of the road and this does that by bringing the junior Highway Code into the modern world and talking about things they're interested in and doing.

"It's more user friendly, has better graphics and is written in a language which will appeal to children and young people.

"It's aimed at children from about eight years to 16 or 17 when they start learning to drive or ride a motorbike or moped and need the full Highway Code.

"It has advice about things such as in-line skating, cycling, walking on the road, riding horses and what to do when they're a passenger in a car.''

She added that copies would be available to schools free of charge from the council's road safety section.

Councillor David Herdson, chairman of Shipley Community Area Panel, joined youngsters at the Baildon playscheme to launch the booklet.

"The guide is a fantastic idea because it gives young people an early grounding in road safety and the Highway Code,'' he said.

"It will stand them in good stead when they learn to drive and, indeed, throughout their lives.''