A ROAD maintenance firm has teamed up with their local council to launch a road safety project for children.

The project will see family-run KAYS, whose previous work includes NHS rainbow designs on local roads, partner with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Rochdale construction company the Casey Group to run a competition in which school children design playground markings.

These marking will be themed around road safety with each participating school invited to submit up to three designs from pupils, which must include road safety features such as zebra crossings.

KAYS commercial director Shaun Hargreaves said: "KAYS is committed to supporting the North West, and road safety is something we feel strongly about.

"This project aims to raise awareness of how important it is that children are given the opportunity to be educated on it, but also giving them a safe space to do so.

"We’re also so grateful to Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and The Casey Group for helping us make the project possible."

Once the submissions are made, a chosen design will then be crowned the winner, with Great Harwood-based KAYS installing the design for the winning school.

The design will be put in place over the summer holidays ready for the September term.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council’s representative on the Lancashire Road Safety Partnership Councillor Zainab Rawat said that this could be hugely important in teaching children about the importance of road safety.

She said: "The Council is really proud to be supporting this project and working in partnership with road maintenance specialists KAYS and Casey.

"Promoting road safety is extremely important and creative initiatives like these really do help our teachers and parents to have meaningful conversations with their children about being safe on the roads.

"We all know that there’s more cars and vehicles on the roads now, more than ever before.

"This makes it all the more important to ensure children know how to keep safe when out and about.

"One lucky pupil’s winning design will be selected to be brought to life on their playground, leaving a legacy of fun and safety messaging for other children for years to come, I wish everyone taking part the best of luck."

To find out more, go to: https://kaystm.co.uk/.