THEY may only have been behind the wheel of pedal cars and on push bikes, but children at a Northallerton nursery were still learning valuable road safety lessons thanks to traffic policeman Martin Usher.

Signs and cones were laid out on the playground at Looby Lou's and the children encouraged to drive around a course in a battery-powered vehicle.

"We thought it was a good idea when Martin suggested a road safety day,'' said nursery owner Anne-Louise Cooper.

"The children learn through play and we find that suits them best. We try to do what we can to educate them and have a theme day once a month with visits from people such as dentists and vets. Everyone is always so generous with their time."

PC Usher perhaps needed less persuading, as his own child attends Looby Lou's.