Children from Blackburn with Darwen have taken part in the first Road Safety Week walk to raise awareness of staying safe on the roads.

Pupils from St Silas CE Primary School, Blackburn Central High School, St Bede’s RC High School, Pleckgate High School, Roe Lee Park Primary School and St Aiden’s Primary School took part in the walk through Blackburn town centre, starting off at the Town Hall.

The event was organised in conjunction with Road Safety Week, run by the charity Brake, which is ongoing this week.

They were joined by the Deputy Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen Cllr Jim Shorrock, Lancashire’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Pratt, PCSOs and police officers, as well as members of the council's community safety team who organised the event.

Youngsters from each school worked together prior to the event decorating poles to measure height for those needing a booster seat when travelling.

They wore high-vis jackets and fluorescent accessories to highlight the 'Be Bright Be Seen' theme.

They were also joined by Dolly, the road safety mascot, accompanied by Cllr Jackie Floyd who has raised concerns about traffic around Lammack Primary School and the safety of young people.

Officially opening the event, Cllr Floyd said: "We believe this walk is a first ever for Road Safety Week and we gathered today to hold this bright, fun, informative parade as a way of celebrating and sharing our collective work on road safety.

"Children end up with long term injuries for not wearing a seat belt and this can be prevented. The collaboration between the young people at all these schools, will have had many bold conversations that will ripple to their family members with those key messages."

Five people die each day on UK roads because of drivers speeding and this week awareness is being raised through Brake, the road safety charity.

Deputy PCC Mr Pratt added: "Any opportunity to engage with the public about road safety and dangerous driving is a chance to raise awareness of the risks.

"It was great to see both pupils from primary and secondary schools lead the parade today."

Last year more than 1,700 people died on Britain's roads, a 10 per cent rise on 2021, with road deaths caused by speeding going up 20 per cent.

Ross Moorlock, interim chief executive of Brake, said: “Today, five people will be killed on our roads. And tomorrow, another five won’t make it home to their families.

"And so on, and so on, until we all say 'Enough!’ and start taking responsibility for each other’s safety on the road.

“The speed we choose to drive at can mean the difference between life and death."