FIREFIGHTERS and schoolchildren will come together to learn about fire safety at a special screening of the new film How to Train Your Dragon 2.

The event on Wednesday has been arranged after 20th Century Fox approached the Department for Communities and Local Government’s Fire Kills campaign and Dorset Fire and Rescue Service with a view to promoting fire safety at home following the release of the film.

Pupils from Greenford Primary School in Maiden Newton will be heading to the Plaza cinema in Dorchester for a private screening of the film following the support the school has given in developing national teacher resources.

How to Train Your Dragon 2, released last month, is a 3D computer-animated action fantasy film starring the voices of actors, Gerard Butler, Cate Blanchett, Kit Harrington and America Ferrera among others.

Tess Cross, education manager at Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said: “We are thrilled to have been working with 20th Century Fox and our colleagues in DCLG to make children across the country safer.

“In How to Train your Dagon 2 the dragons and Vikings have learnt to live safely together – excluding the occasional mishap – and Hiccup and Toothless now want to pass on their fire safety tips to children, living with dragons would make you consider your fire safety.”

Chief fire officer Darran Gunter added: “I look forward to welcoming the Mayor of Dorchester, Dorset County Council cabinet member for education and communications, Cllr Toni Coombs, and of course pupils from Greenford School to the Plaza cinema next week.

“Every year children are killed or seriously injured by fires in the home in the UK.

“This exciting project gives us the opportunity to educate not only Dorset’s children, but children across the country and make them safer from fire.

“The teacher’s pack showcases some of the excellent input that Dorset children receive from SafeWise and DFRS on a regular basis.”