BOLTON bobbies are on the classroom beat to help cut down on street robberies around the town.

Officers gave the first of a series of talks in local schools yesterday warning of the on-street dangers - just weeks after Greater Manchester Police bosses launched a forcewide initiative to slash muggings by a fifth in five years.

Up to 40 pupils from Gaskell County Primary School were given a talk on personal safety, after statistics revealed that 10 and 11-year-olds are amongst those most at risk from street thugs.

The youngsters watched a special screening of a video detailing a street robbery before taking part in a question and answer session and being handed safety advice leaflets and stickers.

Sonia Kennedy, 10, gave the police scheme the thumbs up, adding: "I though it was very interesting because it helps to keep you safe and what to do if you are attacked."

As part of the half-hour talk by Sgt Trevor Pile, youth liaison community affairs officer, warned pupils that young muggers were particularly attracted to potential victims who were using mobile phones.

And Assistant Chief Constable Alan Green echoed his view, adding: "Rewards to street robbers have potentially increased as the number of young people carrying mobile phones and other valuables such as jewellery, cash and credit cards has risen across the country."

The scheme was welcomed by Kath Brown, headteacher at the Thomas Holden Street school.

She added: "This is quite a deprived area and these are incidents that the children will become aware of at one time or another. Anything which helps to keep them safe I'm pleased to have in the school."

More than 200,000 primary and secondary pupils will be spoken to by officers across the force area in the coming weeks.

The latest initiative follows recent video camera filming by town centre bobbies to identify potential young offenders and their victims in mugging hot spots. Sgt Trevor Pile is pictured with, from the left Stephen Ratcliffe, Matthew Hughes, Zara Iqbal, Shereen Cowley and Sonia Kennedy, all aged 10 Ref: H4388/28