Budding movie producers at two County Durham secondary schools have been pitching their ideas for a film to promote road safety.
Year 7 pupils from Seaham High School and Park View School, in Chester-le-Street, put forward their proposals during a Dragon’s Den-style event.
A winning group from each school will now work with members of the Riot Act Theatre Group to develop a script and record their film.
Their final productions will then be shown at the Junior Road Safety Officers end of term event in June.
The project is part of Durham County Council’s Slow to 20 for Safer Streets campaign, which has seen the introduction of 20mph limits and zones on roads near more than 60 schools in the county.
The youngsters were given the chance to pitch a film concept after watching a road safety drama performance by Riot Act.
The hour-long session explained the aims of the Slow to 20 initiative and covered a number of road safety schemes, including distractions, peer pressure and influence, failure to look, safer crossing points and strategies for crossing the road.
It also included information about sustainable, safe and active travel choices.
Paul Watson, Durham County Council’s road safety manager, said: “It’s essential that we make motorists aware of the 20mph zones but it’s equally as important that we educate our children about road safety.
“The drama performances and chance to pitch film ideas are a great way of engaging with young people and passing these important messages on.”
Reduced speed limits and 20mph zones have been introduced on roads around 66 County Durham schools since the launch of Slow to 20 in 2014.
The project is accompanied by an education programme, which aims to make children more road aware, promote cycling and walking and increase speed awareness among motorists.