YOUNGSTERS at a village school have been supporting a police campaign encouraging drivers to slow down.

The Dorchester Rural Safer Neighbourhood Team paid a visit to Cheselbourne Village School following concerns raised at a parish meeting about speeding in the area.

Children at the school enjoyed a road safety day where they learned about how to cross roads safely, how to make themselves visible to motorists and what kinds of vehicles they may see on roads around the village. The pupils also took part in a poster making exercise to highlight the message that ‘20 is plenty’.

The youngsters’ designs will now go on display in Cheselbourne and surrounding villages.

Police Community Support Officer Vickie Hedges said: “The day was a really positive and fun way for children to learn about road safety and how important it is to be safe in and around the village.

“They all produced fantastic posters which showed the road safety message had really got through to them. The community has been really supportive and took part in a vote, along with the school, to choose two posters to be displayed around the villages of Cheselbourne, Melcombe Bingham and Dewlish.

“The winning posters are now proudly displayed around the villages to encourage drivers to slow down.”

Cheselbourne Village School’s headteacher Bob Duffin thanked the police for their contribution to the road safety day and said he hoped his pupils’ message would get through to motorists.

He said: “The school is grateful once again to PCSO Vickie Hedges for organising this competition and for her time spent in the school getting across the important message of road safety.

“We hope that drivers through our villages will now observe the new signs and posters.”