POLICE in the Pennine division have launched a 'Be Safe, Be Seen' safety campaign for school children in the area.

Officers are hoping the new road safety campaign will be a 'glowing' success with the help of illuminous winter gear.

The campaign is being spearheaded by traffic cops who have come up with the bright idea to help keep children safe during the dull months.

With the support of Marsden Building Society and the Lancashire Partnership Against Crime (LANPAC), they are issuing glow-in-the-dark armbands to children who attend schools in accident hotspots for use when they are walking to and from school.

As well as a free arm-band, the youngsters will also get an input on road safety and free road safety literature when officers visit the schools across Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale next month.

Pennine road policing officer, PC Ian McLean, said: "One of the key priorities for road policing officers across Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale is to help make the roads safer, particularly for children under the age of 16.

"The free armbands are just one of a range of initiatives we, and other partners, are involved in.

"Over the coming weeks, we will be targeting pupils at a number of local schools which were chosen following extensive research into casualty figures.

"We will be providing leaflets on road safety to schools, talking to the pupils about road safety and heightening awareness among drivers around the vicinity of schools. We will also be working in liaison with other agencies to try to find longer term solutions to the problem."

Schools to be visited this week include Heasonford Primary School, Queen Victoria Road, Burnley; Casterton Primary School, Thames Avenue, Burnley; Haslingden Primary School, Ryefield Avenue, Haslingden; Nelson Marsden Community School, Percy Street, Nelson; Ightenhill Primary School, Alder Street, Burnley, and Walter Street, Brierfield.