SCHOOL children are safer than ever thanks to a new initiative.

In a special bid to cut down on accidents among young children the Greater Deepdale Partnership teamed up with Lancashire Constabulary to launch the Community Safety Week.

From February 4 children from ten Preston schools in the Deepdale area visited the specially made Safety Town at Kimberley Barracks in Fulwood.

Safety Town was full of displays to teach the youngsters, aged five to seven, how to be safe in situations from crossing a road to dealing with fires.

On hand were fire and police officers, health visitors and road safety officers, who took the children through dealing with strangers, fire danger, hazards in the kitchen, medicine safety and how to stay safe on the county's roads.

Kashmer Shokar, community development officer at Greater Deepdale Partnership, said: "This is an excellent tool to educate young children on safety issues as part of the regeneration work being undertaken in the area."

After finishing Safety Week the confident children went home ready to teach their parents what they had learnt at 'Safety Town' -- the name given to the exercise.

Each child was presented with an activity book, to fill in over the half-term with the help of their their parents.

And every one of the proud youngsters who stopped off at Safety Town was given a special certificate signed by Jim Lawson, chief superintendent at Lancashire Constabulary, and Richard Jones, executive director of Greater Deepdale Partnership.

Sergeant Peter Yates of Preston Police praised the initative. He said: "This is an opportunity for young children to learn about safety issues in a fun and friendly environment."