TWO of Britain's Olympic cycling team are encouraging youngsters to wear a cycling helmet.

In the North-East and North Yorkshire, 51 child cyclists were killed or seriously injured in 2003, out of a total of 359 casualties.

Olympic stars Nicole Cooke and Jamie Staff have teamed up with the Government's THINK! road safety campaign to encourage children to put on a helmet.

Alan Kennedy, chairman of the North- Eastern Local Authority Road Safety Officers Associations, said: "Cycle helmets do save lives despite what many people think.

"I have friends who have been saved from serious injury simply by wearing their lid."

Nicole Cooke said: "It's easy to forget that drivers don't always see you, even if you can see them."

Jamie Staff said: "Cycling is a great way to keep fit, but if you don't do it safely, the results can be disastrous.

"Helmets can help reduce the chances and severity of head injuries - yet most young cyclists don't wear them"

To obtain free safety tips and cycling advice for both young and old children contact your local road safety officer or call 0870 1226 236, or visit www.thinkroadsafety. gov.uk or www.cyclesense.net.

The casualty figures by force area were: Northumbria - 22 child cyclists killed or seriously injured out of 145 casualties; Durham - seven out of 54; Cleveland - 17 out of 59 and North Yorkshire - five out of 81.