MORE than 1,000 youngsters have been given first-hand advice on the dangers of construction sites - from the builders of a £34m highways project.

Representatives of Wills Brothers, who are building the Bedale bypass, visited 12 primary schools to emphasise the dangers inherent in construction operations.

“The tragic news from Barnsley, where a seven year old boy was found dead on a site, is a stark reminder of the potential for serious injury or death,” said North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for highways, Don Mackenzie.

“The school visits conducted by our contractors were intended specifically to alert children to the dreadful risks of straying onto sites.”

The project manager for the bypass, John Stephens added: “The awful tragedy in Barnsley makes initiatives such as this even more critically important.”

As well as the visits, Wills Brothers sponsored a poster competition for pupils at schools near the bypass site, on the subject of construction site safety.

More than a hundred entries were received for the competition, with prizes awarded to the thirty best entrants. The awards were presented by the leader of the council, Cllr Carl Les.