Pupils at a Stratford primary school were taught how to stay visible and be safe while getting about during the dark winter months when a local car dealership paid them a visit.

Dagenham Motors in Plaistow gave a special assembly to the children at Ranelagh Primary School during which they spoke to the pupils about road safety and handed out lumious, reflective wristbands.

The yellow bands are designed to keep them visible to oncoming traffic during the ever shorter days and darker evenings to encourage the children to be careful when walking home from school or after school clubs.

Khalid Ansari and Kieran James travelled from Dagenham Motors to the school in Corporation Street to highlight the dangers of treacherous roads throughout the winter and the need for pedestrians, especially younger ones, to ensure they can be seen by drivers in the dark.

Dagenham Motors employee Khalid said: “As a car dealership we feel that it is part of our responsibility to help highlight the importance of road safety amongst local children.

“The children were brilliant and took everything on board and I’m sure they will be wearing their wristbands with pride.”

The visit was part of a national campaign to support road safety charity Brake which aims to avoid child fatalities by educating in schools.

The charity suggest that parents ensure their children can be easily seen by wearing something reflective, make sure they know the safest place possible for crossing the road, ensure that children’s bikes are properly equipped and working, and always listen for traffic because you can often hear it before you see it.

Brake’s “Road Safety Week” has just taken place and information on volunteering and more helpful safety tips can be found at www.roadsafetyweek.org.uk.

For more details on Dagenham Motors’ road safety presentation for your school, call (020) 8534 7661 or visit the dealership on Plaistow Road.