Rob GarrattYoung cyclists will be ordered off the roads unless they wear reflective clothing as part of a new police crackdown. They have been told to brighten up on the roads or walk on the pavements after families in Hellesdon told police they were fed up with unsafe child cyclists.Rob Garratt

Young cyclists will be ordered off the roads unless they wear reflective clothing as part of a new police crackdown.

They have been told to brighten up on the roads or walk on the pavements after families in Hellesdon told police they were fed up with unsafe child cyclists.

The scheme was launched at Hellesdon High School on Friday when pupils were issued with reflective snap raps to wear and stickers to put on their bikes.

It will be policed by Hellesdon and Horsford Neighbourhood Policing Team behind the initiative after residents outlined their safety concerns at community policing meetings.

Any youngsters seen cycling without reflective items on their bike or reflective clothing will be stopped and advised to walk the rest of the way.

Parents or carers will be contacted to make them aware that their children were putting themselves in a dangerous situation on the road.

PCSO Chris Rolph said: 'The purpose is to work with the school and pupils to reduce the risk of being injured by not being seen by other road users.

'We were getting reports from worried members of the public not being able to see youngsters due to the colour of clothing they were wearing and not having any bicycle lights.

'The school has been very proactive and taken responsibility to launch this scheme which I hope others will follow.

'Ultimately the youngster's safety is paramount, with such a simple preventative measure to reduce the chances of injury I would encourage anyone to adopt it.'

The reflective gear has been funded by Stuart Attwood Builders.

Hellesdon High School deputy head Alastair Ogle said: 'We haven't had any serious incidents involving cyclists and we would like that to continue.

'This scheme will hopefully remind all students about the dangers of riding a bike in a busy area such as Hellesdon and may even encourage more to cycle now that we are able to provide items to help them be seen more easily by other road users.'

According to law all cyclists must have a white front and red rear lights, have their bike fitted with a red rear reflector, and all bikes made after October 1985 must have amber pedal reflectors.

To contact the Hellesdon and Horsford SNT call 0845 456 4567 or e-mail snthellesdonhorsford@norfolk.pnn.police.uk.