YOUNGSTERS have been given expert advice on how to stay safe at the district’s annual Crucial Crew event.

More than 1,400 students from across Tendring have attended in the last two weeks to learn about the dangers of knives, alcohol, traffic, the sea and other issues.

The event is organised by Tendring Council’s community safety team and also aims to prepare primary pupils for the move to secondary school and how to cope with peer pressure.

The emergency services and other organisations were also on hand to offer advice.

High Sheriff of Essex Nicholas Charrington, Tendring Council chairman Val Guglielmi and council health boss Lynda McWilliams also attended the event in Dovercourt.

Mrs McWilliams said: “It was interesting to listen to the youngsters’ views at the start of the sessions and then how they had learned so much from the experts by the end.

“There was also some fun involved but the main messages were serious ones which will stand the children in good stead as they move up to a new school.

“It can be a difficult time, but hopefully this will give them a bit more confidence – as well as the ability to spot potential dangers and problems along the way.”