BLACKPOOL'S campaign to improve child safety over the winter months kicks into action from mid-September.

The Citizen has teamed up with Leisure Parcs and The Wave to promote Blackpool council's Be Safe Be Seen campaign which aims to reduce the number of road traffic accidents involving all pedestrians, particularly those most at risk.

The start of autumn means daylight hours are not as bright and many children are still travelling home from school when darkness falls.

To be safe and be seen people should wear brightly coloured clothing during daylight hours and reflective clothing after dark. Many accidents happen because motorists do not see pedestrians or cyclists in time. Another issue which concerns the council's road safety officer, Carol Bracegirdle, is the latest scooter craze. She said: "There has already been one person killed crossing the road on a scooter and we need to highlight the dangers of not wearing reflective clothing when on one of these.

"Cyclists and scooter riders are particularly vulnerable especially teenagers like newspaper girls and boys who deliver early in the morning and in the evening after dark.

"School uniforms tend to be dark so it is important that children add reflective stickers and armbands to their coats and bags.

"The over sixties also figure high in the casualty statistics because they take longer to cross the road," she said.

The campaign, which runs from the middle of September and throughout October, will see reflective stickers which can be placed on bags or coats distributed to school children and poster are being displayed in schools.

The council is offering armbands and other reflective accessories for £1. Contact Carol on (01253) 476182.