PUPILS learned about the dangers lurking on farms at a safety event in Hamsterley Forest yesterday.

Members of the Health and Safety Executive will be in the forest all week to outline to children some of the main accidents that occur on farms.

These include the dangers from farm vehicles, grain pits, slurry lagoons or pits and other health hazards.

The experts will also explain to children the need to be aware of these risks when visiting farms.

Over the past ten years, 42 children have died as a result of agricultural accidents.

While the number of farm deaths continues to reduce each year, one fatality is too many, said Peter Dodman, of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) North East.

"This is the fifth year HSE has participated in Rural Rangers and all children attending will be given a copy of HSE's publication Stay Safe on the Farm. This event gives us an opportunity to highlight the dangers to children and explain what could go wrong,'' he said.