A CAR-HIRE company with North-East links has launched a colourful safety drive.

Rental firm Europcar, which has a branch at Teesside International Airport, is giving away colouring-in pictures and crayons to customers' children.

The pictures that youngsters are asked to colour in all carry key road safety messages.

The firm is handing out the pictures from the August Bank Holiday in conjunction with the charity Save the Children, to raise road safety awareness.

Europcar's marketing director Kirsten Roennau said: "Our support of Save the Children goes beyond just fundraising. A significant percentage of Europcar's customer base is made up of families, so we are ideally placed to communicate road safety messages to children.

"The colouring-in pictures should not only convey key messages but should also help keep children entertained in the car - a bonus for families travelling during the hot summer period.''