CHILDREN in North Yorkshire are being urged to stay visible on the roads as the dark nights draw in.

Last winter, 65 children in Yorkshire and Humberside were killed or seriously injured on the roads. Thirty-three of the accidents happened between 3pm and 6pm.

To get the message across in primary schools, school milk supplier Dairy Farmers of Great Britain joined with the Department for Transport.

The result has been the Be Safe be Seen message on 12 million milk cartons.

The campaign is reminding children of the need to be seen at all times and encourages the use of fluorescent or bright clothing during the day and reflective material at night.

Phil Jones, regional road safety officer for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "Often children don't have a well-developed road sense and they can sometimes assume that drivers will be able to see them when they're walking or cycling because they can see the vehicles.

"To reduce the risk of accidents on dark evenings and dull winter days, we are advising young people to wear fluorescent clothing with reflective strips at nighttime.

"Cyclists of all ages should check their bikes are in proper working order - and remember, it is an offence to ride without a white light at the front, a red back light and a red reflector."

Drivers should also take care, he said: "They can do their bit by driving carefully at all times and checking and cleaning their lights."