A STRETFORD optician is putting road safety in the frame by donating almost 200 high-visibility vests to schoolchildren.

Steve Arran, store director at Specsavers in Stretford Mall, has provided English Martyrs’ Roman Catholic Primary School in Urmston with reflective 120 vests.

A further 45 vests are being donated to Forest Gate Academy in Partington.

“Even by the time the children are coming out of school in the afternoon it’s already dark and that becomes an issue for drivers seeing them,” said Steve.

“The potential for accidents increases considerably during the darker nights. The purpose of the high-visibility vests is to enable the children to be seen more easily. It helps promote a safer environment for them while out and about with school.”

A team of children, including four year 5 road safety officers from English Martyrs Primary School, visited the Stretford Mall opticians to collect the vests.

Headteacher Carole Partington said: “I’m so pleased to be working with Specsavers and the community, promoting the children’s awareness of road safety.

“Our road safety officers deliver the message of safety through the school and it’s great they have something to work with in the high-visibility vests.

“We have terrible parking problems outside the school and I’m always talking to parents and children about road safety. Anything we can do to promote the children’s safety is good.”

Last year, the Specsavers branch donated high-visibility vests to a Beavers group and another primary school in the area.

Gareth Wilkins, centre manager at Stretford Mall, said: “I’m very pleased that two local schools are to benefit once again from this road safety scheme. Being seen is important for staying safe, particularly in the winter.”