RAF Leeming has been awarded a road safety accolade following 12 months of effort.

Personnel from the transport and maintenance flight, led by Sergeant Wendy Williams, were presented with the 2006 RAF Road Safety Bowl for work pioneering links with North Yorkshire County Council to develop events designed to make road use safer.

Initiatives included a presentation and free checks, with the implementation of child seat laws, and a cycling proficiency course was held on the station.

There were also presentations about the dangers of drinking and driving, and on winter driving.

The scheme was so successful that the number of accidents involving station personnel fell from 50 in 2004 to just over 20 last year.

Sgt Williams said: "A couple of the presentations were very hard-hitting, but sometimes they need to be.''

John Everson, the county council's road safety project officer, said: "RAF Leeming has quite a few 16 to 25-year-olds, who are one of our main target groups.''

The rose bowl was presented to station commander Group Captain Edward Stringer by Group Captain Malcolm French, of Air Command at High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire