Hull youngsters play egg-xtra safe this Easter

Pupils from a Hull school will be egg-xtra careful around road works this Easter after gas safety experts Northern Gas Networks hopped by for a visit.

The gas pipeline owner brought its 'Play Safe, Stay Safe' campaign to Buckingham Primary school in Garden Village to encourage safe and responsible behaviour near road-works over the school holidays.

Each year, Northern Gas Networks invests more than £63 million to improve gas mains across the North of England. In Hull alone, £3.4m is being invested in upgrading supplies this financial year.

One such investment project is currently taking place in Garden Village where a million pounds is being invested in replacing 8.3km of old metal gas mains with modern plastic pipe.

The work is being carried out by Morgan Sindall on behalf of Northern Gas Networks. The project is expected to be completed in early May and will ensure the area benefits from a safe and reliable supply of gas for decades to come.

As Buckingham Primary is at the centre of where the work is taking place, the school was chosen to take part in Northern Gas Networks' award-winning 'Play Safe, Stay Safe' programme.

Northern Gas Networks' Customer Liaison Officer Sarah Meakin visited the school to give a safety talk. During the presentation youngsters learnt about the dangers associated with playing too close to excavations, viewed barriers and signs in a safe environment and learnt about what to do if they smell gas. Sarah said: "The pupils from Buckingham Primary are now great ambassadors for safety in the area.

"They are helping us to spread the message that road works are just like building sites and need to be treated with respect. Playing near them or tinkering with equipment like barriers, pipes and signs can put them and other people at risk.”

Area Operations Manager Richie Read said: "Safety is paramount in everything we do, but we can't be at every road works site 24-hours a day. We really appreciate the help that the pupils from Buckingham Primary are giving us in spreading this important safety message.”