A show combining the marvels of stage magic with vital safety advice has been playing to schoolchildren across County Durham, including in and around Consett.

Allan’s Road Safety Magic Show has been delivering interactive performances, which involve incredible magic tricks, plenty of jokes and cheery singalongs. The shows have also been passing on important messages to reception and key stage one pupils about road safety.

The road-safety tips have included: stop, look, listen; be safe, be seen; holding hands; safer places to cross; and how to use different kinds of light-controlled crossings.

The magic shows are part of Durham County Council’s Slow to 20 for Safer Streets campaign, which advocates stricter speed limits outside schools.

The programme also campaigns against speeding and teaches children how to walk and cycle to school safely.

The school’s that have hosted performances of Allan’s Road Safety Magic Show are:

  • Consett Infants School
  • Shotley Bridge Primary School
  • Annfield Plain Infants School
  • Greenland Community Primary School in Stanley
  • Cockton Hill Infants School in Bishop Auckland
  • Cotsford Infant School in Horden
  • Acre Rigg Infants School in Peterlee
  • Middlestone Moor Primary School near Spennymoor
  • Newton Hall Infants School near Durham City
  • Dene House Primary School in Peterlee

Durham County Council’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships, Cllr Brian Stephens, said, “It’s vital we educate children about road safety from a young age and Allan’s Road Safety Magic Show allows us to do so in a way that really appeals to youngsters.”

“By incorporating these important messages into songs, magic tricks and jokes, they really stick in children’s minds. They see it as fun, but the lessons they are learning have the potential to save lives.”

The Slow to 20 campaign began in 2015 and now 109 County Durham schools, colleges and nurseries have 20-mph speed limits outside them.

Cllr Stephens continued, “The Slow to 20 scheme has been a great success and, with the support of AAPs (Area Action Partnerships) and town and parish councils, we have been able to help keep even more children safe.”

As well as the magic shows, the campaign has seen kids acting in plays about road safety and working with professional artists to produce 20-mph speed limit signs.

For more information about the Slow to 20 for Safer Streets campaign, please go to http://www.durham.gov.uk/slowto20.

(The featured image shows Alan Innes from Allan’s Road Safety Magic Show with pupils from Middlestone Moor Primary School.)


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DavidSunderland
David writes about local news, thought provoking stories, and yearns to capture the community spirit with a unique writing style.

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