AN EIGHT-DAY safety initiative involving more than 2,300 young people from schools across Keighley and Bradford was extended to include children from special schools.

More than 100 children attended a special event at Bradford Bulls SouthBank as part of the initiative, led by the Keighley Work Safe Project.

The scheme, now in its third year, is a multi-agency partnership involving British Transport Police, the school nurse team at Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, Northern Gas Networks, Northern Powergrid, St John's Ambulance, the Dogs Trust and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

LJ Muscroft, education officer for the Dogs Trust, said: “In our session, we look at safety around dogs, such as things like reading their body language and the correct approach for children to adopt if a dog comes up to them.”

Dave Towers, from Keighley Work Safe, added: “This year 2,300 children will attend Stay Safe events. I am particularly excited by the extension of the project to include children with special needs being able to attend.”