BURY'S "friendly" faces on the street have been recruiting some pint-sized pals.

Pupils from Bury Catholic Preparatory School joined the borough's community safety wardens on patrol around Bury town centre.

The tour of duty was made by Year 5 youngsters and was designed to tie in with their class work.

The pupils, aged nine and ten, took a look around the remains of Bury Castle and explored Bury Parish Church before taking a tour around local shops and businesses. Ged McGee, safety warden manager, said the school was examining the local geography as part of the national curriculum. "Because our wardens are so closely involved with their patrol areas, they very quickly pick up a host of facts, information and the views of customers," he said.

"We were asked if we could spare a couple of wardens to take a party of youngsters around the area and pass on that knowledge and were only too pleased to do so."

He said the wardens, which now cover all areas of the borough, would be happy to work with more schools.

Councillor John Byrne, council leader, added: "Our wardens are already familiar to many young people and I know they regularly patrol along the normal routes used by pupils to and from the town centres.

"By working with primary school children it will allow the wardens to pass on the local knowledge they have acquired to the benefit of the pupils.

"They can also let the youngsters know just what their role is as tomorrow's citizens, and how they can be part of protecting and enhancing our borough for the future."