POLICE in a village near Chester have launched an initiative to provide pupils at a primary school with free lights for their bikes.

As it continues to get darker earlier, Tarporley Police have joined forces with the team at Halfords Northwich and Community Councillor Charles Hardy of Cheshire West and Chester Council to provide all Key Stage 2 pupils at Tarporley Primary School with free bike lights.

The initiative was put into gear by PCSO Jorge Ferreira and Police Constable Paul Gilchrest of Northwich LPU, with it being supported from the get-go by schools own Junior Safety Officers, Isabelle Brocklehurst and Jessica Bompa, who will continue play an active role as this project continues.

Police Constable Paul Gilchrest, who helped with initiative, said: "This is a great project that we are extremely proud to bring to the pupils of Tarporley Primary School, so that they can be easily seen by other pedestrians and road users on their bikes before school, after school or on weekends when it may not be particularly bright outside.

"This would not have been possible without the help of the great team at Halford's Northwich and the generous donation made by Councillor Hardy at Cheshire West and Chester Council.

"I'd also like to thank Tarporley Primary School's own JSO's Isabelle and Jessica who have helped us with this project and whom we will continue to work with as we ensure that all the Key Stage 2 students have access to these bike lights.

"The Constabulary's Junior Safety Officers play a very important role across the county, assisting in school-related initiatives like this, but also promoting school and pupil safety such as how to deal with bullying, engagement within the local community and road safety."