THOUSANDS of youngsters are getting practical lessons in safety, courtesy of North Yorkshire's annual Crucial Crew exercise.

During the next two weeks youngsters from schools in Hambleton and Richmondshire will be visiting RAF Leeming, near Bedale, for hands-on classes in how to tackle emergencies.

Ten scenarios have been set up for the exercise, which involves all the emergency services as well as the local authorities.

Ten and 11-year-olds will be attending two-hour sessions at the base, being taught about the dangers to be found around homes, trucks and gardens.

They are taught how to deal with strangers or use victim support services and, for the first time this year, the dangers around rail tracks are also being spelt out.

"We have been teaching children vital safety lessons for the past eight years," said Hambleton's environmental spokesman Arthur Barker.

"It is a vital part of the partnership approach to safety, which has been adopted across this county.

"If we help save just one person's life then the entire exercise has been worthwhile."