A MEDIEVAL fortress in Teesdale was the setting for a police road safety campaign yesterday.

Youngsters from schools in Teesdale were invited to Raby Castle to receive awards for creating posters as part of a road safety campaign by Durham Police.

More than 200 children, from six primary schools in Teesdale, were invited to take part in the poster competition, which was designed to make youngsters more aware of the importance of road safety on winter nights.

On a wintry day at Raby Castle, three pupils from each of the primary schools, were presented with a £5 gift token, a flashing badge and a reflective badge, during a ceremony in the castle's Baron's Hall.

The primary schools involved in the campaign were Staindrop, Gainford, Ingleton, Woodland, Butterknowle and Cockfield.

The ten-year-old winner was Amy Wall, from Woodlands Primary School, who was awarded an extra £20, a trophy and 330 for the school to spend.

The campaign was organised by Staindrop's beat police officer, PC Peter Moore, with help from Staindrop primary teacher Simon Heritage.

This year's venture followed the success of a pilot scheme involving the primary school in Staindrop, where the busy A688 is a danger for local youngsters.

PC Moore said: "The children taking part are aged from five to ten-years-old, and it's clear from the quality of the entries they have put a lot of work and thought into their posters.

"I hope next year we will be able to extend the competition in the remaining six schools in the dale."

A series of six information pamphlets, produced by each of the schools, will be circulated to parents to drive home the road safety message.