PARENTS are needed to play their part in reducing the number of road accidents involving children.

Bury Council has secured Government backing for a new Kerbcraft project to "train" youngsters in the art of roadside safety.

The scheme will run at nine primary schools where the risk of accidents is deemed to be highest. They are: East Ward, St Joseph's and St Bede's, and St Paul's (all in East Bury); Holy Trinity, St Luke's, St Peter's and St Thomas's (all in Redvales); St John's with St Mark's (Moorside) and St Michael's (Besses in Whitefield).

Kerbcraft is for children aged between five and seven, and is being piloted across the country following its success in Glasgow.

Andrew Hough, Bury's Kerbcraft co-ordinator, will train volunteers (usually the pupils' parents) to then train the children at the kerb close to the school.

He said the project was like an interactive version of the Green Cross Code, where youngsters talked about safety among themselves at the scene, rather than being given a list of "dos and don'ts".

Parents and children would be taken through three modules: finding the best place to cross, the correct way to cross between cars, and the safest way to walk over a junction.

People who can spare one morning or afternoon a week for four to 12 weeks should contact Andrew Hough on 0161 253 5934, or email him at a.hough@bury.gov.uk. Volunteers will be required to complete a Criminal Records Bureau check.