And bonfire night safety tips given by police

Four school children from Royston have won prizes for their Halloween poster designs in this year’s awareness-raising competition.

Two each from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School and Roysia Middle School scooped the awards, which were given by the county community safety unit.

Anthony Georgiou and Riona Datta-Savage from St Mary’s won in the three to six year old category, and Amythyst Minnie and Charlie Dobson from Roysia won the seven to nine year old category.

They have all been shortlisted for the overall prize, which is to have their design as the official police and county council poster for 2010.

The shortlisted finalists all receive a goodie-bag and certificate.

Youth Crime Reduction Officer PC Lee Jessup said: “We really loved the designs the children produced. The children had obviously really thought about what they wanted to say and did it in a very bright and colourful way. Congratulations to them on making the shortlist.”

Meanwhile, Herts police have issued safety advice for children getting ready to enjoy bonfire night.

The constabulary’s top tips are:

• An organised display is the safest way to enjoy fireworks.

• Fireworks are noisy (which can upset very young or elderly people as well as pets), they can cause damage and they can cause serious injuries if not used properly.

• You have to be 16 or over to buy ‘novelty’ fireworks, such as sparklers, caps and ‘serpents’ and 18 or over to buy ‘adult’ fireworks.

• It is an offence to let fireworks off between 11pm and 7am except on 5th November, Diwali, New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year when the curfew is midnight.