A new scheme to help children stay safe near roads has been launched in Keighley.

Children from Eastwood First School will be taking part in 'walk wise' - a six-week pilot scheme organised by Bradford council's road safety team. Pupils will be taught road-safety lessons with the help of parents and other adults from the local community.

It follows the recent trial of a similar scheme - Footsteps - for three to six-year-olds at Aire View Infants School in Silsden. Eastwood head-teacher Lynda Godden says adults will take children on guided walks."They will point out safe places to cross roads and raise awareness of dangers," she says.

By working in partnership with the Eastwood community, a local action area has been set up. This involves all sectors of the community including businesses, parents, children, community leaders and the school.

Road signs have been put up in the Eastwood area urging drivers to slow down in built-up areas and 2,000 information leaflets have been distributed to local homes. The leaflets, which include Urdu and Bengali translations, explain the scheme to parents.

Cllr Adrian Longthorn, deputy chairman of the council's highways sub-committee, says: "The training scheme needs the support of the whole Eastwood community."

to make it a success and prevent the tragedy of road accidents. Children need to be taught how to cross the road safely and school is an ideal way to do this.'

Volunteers are still needed to help with the scheme. Anyone interested should ring the school on 210192.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.