A firm of opticians has made sure that 240 primary pupils in Helston can be seen easily by donating 240 fluorescent vests.

Specsavers has presented free, high visibility vests to all 240 foundation and infant children at Parc Eglos School, to help them be seen during the dark mornings and evenings The children were presented the vests by Graham Dunn, director of Specsavers in Truro, which organised the donation during a ‘Be Safe, Be Seen’ assembly presented by Tracy Porter of Cornwall Council’s Road Safety Team.

She was invited to the school to talk to children about staying safe as a pedestrian during the winter months.

Louise Jones, deputy head at Parc Eglos, said: “We always encourage our children and parents to walk to and from school. Apart from the obvious health and social benefits of a daily walk in the fresh air, children who have walked to school arrive more wide awake and ready to learn.

“These vests will not only be used by the children when walking to and from school, but will be used when the children are out and about on school trips and community events.”

With the beginning and end of the day being much darker at this time of year, children can often find themselves walking to and from school in poor light, so the importance of making themselves as visible as possible was stressed to the children.

Without reflective clothing or items a pedestrian or cyclist is only visible, in low beam headlights, from 30 metres away. By wearing or using reflective items they become visible at 150 metres, giving drivers five times the distance to notice them and more importantly avoid them.

Mr Dunn said: “Specsavers are delighted to able to support in raising awareness of the need for good vision and increased visibility amongst all road users, particularly children travelling to school.”

The importance of youngsters considering their safety at the roadside is promoted though the school council’s road safety campaign, with year five pupils currently undertaking a project involving them producing a leaflet outlining the benefits of walking to school.