LOCAL schoolchildren can now be seen as well as heard thanks to an initiative by the members of the West Somerset Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership. The group stumped up funding to buy high visibility fluorescent jackets for children to ensure they could get to and from school safely. West Somerset Council's community safety officer Pete Hughes said: "For a while we've heard from parents and teachers who are worried about children crossing rural roads. "Often the roads are unlit or there are no pavements or both, which obviously puts children at higher risk. "We're delighted to be able to provide children in West Somerset's first schools with these jackets so that drivers, cyclists and other road uses are aware of their presence." In all, the partnership has bought 700 jackets which are being distributed across the district by local police community support officers (PCSOs). Mr Hughes, PCSO Sue Hurley and PCSO Rachel Cutler are pictured with Cutcombe First School youngsters Tom Nancekivell, Hannah Thompson, Harry Delve, Aaron Kendall, Ellie Abraham and Charlotte Matravers.