Swindon's 20,000 primary school children can look forward to a safer winter this year thanks to a joint initiative between Nationwide Building Society and the borough council.

The building society has chosen to pilot its road safety initiative in Swindon and this has been launched at schools across the borough.

The pilot project, in conjunction with the council's safer routes to school initiative, ensures all primary school children receive a reflective disc to wear on their coats and bags.

Andrew Litchfield, head of community relations at Nationwide which has its head office in Swindon, said: "Government figures have shown that every year, more than 130 children die and more than 4,500 are seriously injured while walking and cycling.

"As the clocks go back and the nights draw in, this is a good opportunity to launch this scheme in our home town and work towards a winter when Swindon children will be seen and safe on the roads.

"We're very pleased to have the backing of the council as we know they are very supportive of all initiatives that improve the safety of our children on the roads."

Primary schools across the borough have received packs containing reflective discs for all pupils and a resource pack for teachers to discuss road safety in the classroom.

Swindon children will also have a chance to design their own disc to win a bike for themselves and £500 for their school.

Margaret Tester, road safety officer at Swindon Borough Council, said: "Safety is a major concern for all children and we're very pleased that Nationwide has chosen Swindon to pilot this scheme. It not only works well with our own initiatives but also ties in with the Government's Glow in the Dark campaign, which also aims to increase road safety knowledge."