Youngsters have been learning crucial safety messages which can save lives.

The Comet: Great Northern Railway driver Gary Haggar speaks to Ashtree schoolchildrenGreat Northern Railway driver Gary Haggar speaks to Ashtree schoolchildren (Image: Archant)

More than 1,500 Year 6 pupils from Stevenage and the surrounding area will take part in the annual Crucial Crew scheme, which kicked off last week and runs until Friday.

Students from the 33 participating schools are visiting the Bowes Lyon Centre in St George’s Way for the initiative, where they are taken through 11 different safety scenarios by experts in the different fields.

Organiser Alex Lang said: “It’s our 22nd year and we’re still going strong. It’s about passing key safety messages to youngsters who come to us at an impressionable age before they go to secondary school.

“I know first hand that they do remember it as last year I spoke to someone at a Stevenage shop who recognised me. He took part in one of the first events about 20 years ago but he was still able to name all 10 different scenarios and the messages behind them which is really good going.

The Comet: Pete Cargill and Justin Chalkley from the community fire safety taskforce speaking to youngstersPete Cargill and Justin Chalkley from the community fire safety taskforce speaking to youngsters (Image: Archant)

“Lives have been saved as a result of first aid training from this scheme so it’s all worthwhile.”

• Crucial Crew is one of four causes in Stevenage to be shortlisted to win up to £3,000 from the Lloyd’s Bank Community Fund.

To cast your vote visit www.lloydsbank.com/communityfund where information for all the shortlisted causes is available.