THEY may be known as the Dims, but a family of dolls has been given the life and death task of getting across a vital safety message.

Mummy, Daddy and Baby Dim have been enlisted to persuade North-East children to belt up in the back of the car.

Countless safety campaigns failed to get the message across to parents - the region is recognised as one of the worst in the country.

Children will see the model family in action this month - flying through the windscreen of their tiny runabout.

The Dims are the bright idea of Middlesbrough road safety officer Dave Milford, who was inspired by memories of his old schoolteacher. "Forty-seven years ago, when I was at grammar school, my Latin master used to fire chalk at us with a catapult if we were talking," he recalled.

"I didn't learn much Latin, but I never forgot the catapult."

With his new creation the Dims become the chalk, the car the catapult. The vehicle hurtles down an 8ft ramp, crashes at the bottom and the Dims go through the paper tissue windscreen.

"When they wear their little seatbelts they don't, which teaches the children about the transfer of energy, as well as the road safety message."

Costing £850, the Dims set is made by Forge House, an engineering company based on Darlington's Cleveland Trading Estate.

The North of England has one of the worst records for child injuries caused by unrestrained youngsters in cars.

Previous campaigns have failed to educate parents, so this one is targeting ten-year-olds, urging them to take responsibility for themselves and their siblings.

North Yorkshire will use the model at this month's Operation Crucial Crew, a series of safety carousels for more than 2,000 children.

County road safety officer Alison Butterfield said: "Nationally, children are four times more likely to be injured while walking or cycling than travelling by car. In North Yorkshire, they are almost as likely to be injured in the car, which is why we are focusing on increasing seatbelt usage."

"Parents get in the car and belt themselves up but not their children in the back," she said. "It's a precious cargo they are carrying round - their loved ones."

Mr Milford said: "This way we can get the children to educate their parents and, regardless of what the adults do, they can put their own seatbelts on.