CHILDREN got their hands dirty to learn more about staying safe at building sites.

Pupils of all ages from Hook Junior School visited Barratt Homes’ Oakwood Grange development in Griffin Way North, Hook last week.

The 12 children were invited to the new homes development where they were taught the importance of staying safe around building sites and pupils were also invited to test out their construction skills and had a go at building a wall.

Lynn Martin, headteacher at Hook Junior School, said: “The children were delighted to be invited to Oakwood Grange.

"The practical element of building the wall directly engaged pupils with the work that goes into building new homes, adding an element of fun to the important message of staying safe around construction sites.

"It’s great to see housebuilders providing such important opportunities to young members of the community.”

Lynnette St-Quintin, sales director for Barratt Southern Counties, added: “As a responsible housebuilder, we are dedicated to ensuring that the next generation are educated on the risks of being on or living around a development.

"When we are building in an area, we are keen to work with the local community to ensure that children, who might at first see a site as more of a big playground, are safe.

"We thought this project with schools was a fun and engaging way for children to understand how to stay safe on site, but also to see the work that goes into creating new communities such as these.”