WEST Somerset youngsters have been given a helping hand to reduce their risk of becoming accident victims thanks to a pot of money raised from speeding motorists.

Pupils from Knights Templar First School in Watchet, St Peter's First in Williton and the Teddy Bears Nursery at Old Cleeve have been given a total of 300 reflective jackets from the Operation Taboo road safety fund.

The initiative offers motorists the chance to pay to attend a speed awareness course instead of being prosecuted and being given points on their licence, either through a fixed penalty ticket or summons to a magistrates court.

It was set up about nine years ago by officers from the road policing unit who believed education could be more effective than prosecution.

Officers from Williton police station have carried out speed checks at varying times on the A358 and A39, as well as local village roads, over the past 18 months.

And where applicable, those motorists caught driving over the speed limit have been given the chance to take part in Operation Taboo, raising funds for items like the reflective jackets which youngsters can wear on excursions and outings to improve their visibility and safety.

Pictured at the back are Knights Templar First School headteacher Heather Good and St Peter's First headteacher James Peate. In the front, from the left, are Special Constable Simon Bale - who has been carrying out some of the local speed checks - and Knights Templar pupils Amelia Bale, Brook Cahill and Lauren Tringham, with Joseph Austin-Thompson and Grace Jones from St Peter's and Inspector Rob Pearson from the road policing unit.

Photo: Steve Guscott.