A POSTER competition to raise awareness about keeping children safe and happy in their families has been launched this week.

The competition is aimed at young people aged between four and 16 in the Middlesbrough and the Redcar and Cleveland area.

Mary Griksaitis, child protection officer for education in Middlesbrough and chairman of the South Tees Area Child Protection Committee, said: "We value the ideas of the young people in our area and hope to get an enthusiastic response."

Entries should be on A4 size paper or card and the name, age and school of entrants should be on the back of the poster.

They should be sent to Claire Seymour, ACPC Development Officer, c/o NSPCC, 31 Park Road South, Middlesbrough, TS5 6LE.

For more information go to www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/childprotection