A CONSTRUCTION firm has issued a plea to parents to make sure their children stay away from building sites.

Partner Construction runs site safety talks at schools throughout the year using its mascots Ivor and Honor Goodsite.

Staff at the company, which is building The Acorns 70-home development at Spennymoor for Maple Oak Homes, are concerned that school holidays boredom could tempt youngsters onto sites.

They want to make people aware of the potential hazards.

Leigh Cresswell, managing director of Partner Construction, said: “The school holidays are well under way and a building site can look like a tempting place for children to play.

“The reality is that there are a whole host of potential dangers including machinery, loose materials and trucks.

“We’re asking that parents make their children aware of the dangers and ensure they know where they’re playing.

"As a housebuilder we have a responsibility to keep the communities we work in safe and that includes educating children about the risks."

He said the key message to children is that they should never enter a building site without a responsible adult and the correct protective clothing and he urged parents and children to always read and follow safety signs around sites.

"They are there to keep everyone safe," he added.