PRINCE Michael of Kent launched a road safety initiative for children at Malmesbury C of E Primary School on Monday morning.

The Prince gave the Walk Safe initiative, aimed at improving road safety for school children, his full backing.

After being met by a playground of children in their red school sweatshirts the Prince was shown a film explaining the green cross code to children.

Addressing a group of children with reflective jackets in the school hall, the Prince said he thought the film was wonderfully put together.

"I started a scheme many years ago to encourage people to think about road safety, not only children but adults as well.

"Walk Safe is a very, very clever way of putting road safety into the minds of children and once we have got it there we have got it there for life.

"I would like to wish everybody in Malmesbury and Wiltshire every success in the future," he said.

Prince Michael of Kent is president of the Institute of Road Safety Officers, and is the patron of the Prince Michael Road Safety Awards, which recognise achievements and innovations improving road safety both nationally and internationally.

The Prince was given a stuffed hedgehog, the symbol of the road safety campaign, as a memento of his visit by the children.

After signing the school visitors' book he then took a group of youngsters to the crossing at Tetbury Hill and demonstrated the best way to cross the road.

Head teacher Jeff Staton said: "It is a great privilege to be launching the road safety programme at Malmesbury School and the children felt very honoured to have a visit from his Royal Highness.

"We have worked very hard over the last year with the Wiltshire Road Safety Team to put this together."

Walk Safe, which is now available to all Wiltshire primary, first, middle, infants' and junior schools, aims to help children acquire the necessary skills to become safer pedestrians.

By helping children to become more aware of the skills they need when walking to school, Walk Safe aims to reduce the number of children injured on Wiltshire's roads. The course includes a classroom-based discussion and video and a practical session with road safety officers.

Children will learn about how to cross the road safely and general road safety awareness including in-car safety, using the Green Cross Code and about how to ensure they can be more readily seen by traffic during the darker winter months.

Wiltshire County Council Cabinet member for education William Snow said: "Walk Safe will improve children's awareness as pedestrians and help them to cross the road safely.

"Hopefully, this will also encourage parents and children to walk to school."