PRIMARY school children are being encouraged to get creative whilst thinking about safety for a new competition.

That’s after Durham’s Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner for County Durham and Darlington, Ron Hogg, launched his annual creative campaign with the theme of staying safe during winter nights.

Mr Hogg announced his competition at Ox Close Primary School in Spennymoor on Monday.

He said: “It is important that young people are encouraged think about the environment around them and how they can stay safe. The designs can be anything from wearing visible clothing on dark nights to locking property, or keeping lights on when the house is empty.“This is a great opportunity for children to get creative, whilst having those important conversations with adults, and their peers, about how to stay safe.”

Daniel Harrison, Headteacher at Ox Close Primary School said: “Keeping the children safe is something which we absolutely emphasise at Ox Close and it is the most important aspect of my job as Headteacher.

"Having Ron attend Ox Close was a tremendous honour for us. It helped to re-emphasise key messages that both Ron in his role as Police and Crime Commissioner and Ox Close as a school wish to get across.

“Staying safe as the dark nights of the autumn and winter become a reality is crucial and we are also delighted to be able to celebrate diversity and to try to help to promote unity, especially in these times of division and disharmony in the world at large.”

Entries should be up to A4 in size and in pen, pencil or crayon.

Individual competition entries completed outside of school can be handed in at the free family fun day on Saturday, October 28, at Locomotion, The National Railway Museum in Shildon, between 10am and 3pm.

A competition design template is also available at durham-pcc.gov.uk

The competition closes on October 28 and the winner will be announced early in November.