YOUNGSTERS in the borough of Stockton who wear their cycling helmets could be in for a pleasant surprise during the next few weeks.

Officers from Stockton Borough Council will be taking to the streets to hand out special novelty hats.

They will be rewarding safety-conscious cyclists with head cases, novelty hats made of lycra, which pull over the top of cycling helmets.

Head cases are the latest thing to hit the streets and have already proved popular in US.

Peter Fleming, the council's road safety officer, said: "We will be on the look-out for young people to don the funky hats to help us promote helmet safety.

"So don't be too surprised if you see youngsters riding around in Stockton, sporting jesters, wings, devils and dinosaurs on their helmets."

The youngsters will also be given the opportunity to enter a free national prize draw to win a mountain bike.

The give-away is part of the Helmet Watch 2001 initiative, organised by the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust, a charitable organisation that encourages the use of cycle helmets.