AN urban street has been rebuilt in a warehouse to help asylum seekers cope with everyday living in the region.

SafetyWorks! is an interactive safety centre based in West Fifteen, in Newcastle.

The warehouse has been transformed to look like an inner city area, which includes a house, street scene and an extensive range of hazards encountered in day-to-day life.

A group of French, Persian and English speaking foreign nationals will visit the centre tomorrow for a course which looks at issues such as how to deal with the police and using the Tyne and Wear Metro.

Councillor Ruth Robson, Newcastle City Council's cabinet member for housing and regeneration, said: "Any measure to ensure asylum seekers' safety and quality of life within the community have to be welcomed."

The event is being sponsored by Northumbria Police, the city council and social inclusion group Preparing for Change.

The centre also provides an area where groups, such as older people, ethnic minorities, domestic violence groups and other community groups can be given information about home safety, crime prevention, personal safety and accident prevention.

Cabinet member for community planning and democratic renewal, Councillor Barry Phillipson, said: "Visitors to the centre experience and participate in a range of realistic situations, which could be potentially life-threatening, but which are preventable."