CHILDREN cycling and walking on the streets of York and North Yorkshire have been warned to "be safe and be seen", as the clocks go back.

The Department for Transport has launched a campaign called THINK!, which highlights the need for children to wear fluorescent clothes during the day and reflective clothes at night.

Road Safety Minister David Jamieson said: "At this time of year it is vital for parents and children alike to start thinking about safety and visibility."

According to statistics, there are more road casualties during the winter months, when visibility is poor.

Child cyclists are particularly vulnerable, with 4,800 killed or injured last year, out of a total of 34,500 casualties nationwide; 31 children were killed nationally in pedestrian accidents.

But the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) said 450 deaths or serious injuries each year could be prevented if clocks did not go back in October.

The society is calling for a two-year trial scheme, "single/double summertime", which would mean darker mornings but an extra hour of evening daylight throughout the year.

City of York Council road safety officer Peter Zanzottera was cautious about the idea, and thought it might be beneficial to stick with the current system.

He said: "You can never measure the accident that doesn't happen.

"Certainly the amount of accidents does peak at this time of year and one of the reasons for that has been attributed to visibility problems. But the majority of accidents are caused by human error and most cases still happen in clear and dry conditions."

Updated: 10:06 Saturday, October 25, 2003