WEST Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner has attended a different kind of 'Oscars' night in Otley.

Leeds City Council's Highways department used a £5,000 grant from the Commissioner's Safer Communities Fund for its Road Safety Oscars scheme.

The project involves secondary schools across Leeds being asked to make road safety and sustainable travel films.

The participating schools, which include Prince Henry's Grammar School, then hold road safety 'Oscar ceremonies' to showcase their work before it is shared with their fellow students and pupils at feeder primaries.

Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson visited Prince Henry's on Monday, June 18 to see the student-produced films.

A few days earlier he had visited The Polish Saturday School in Huddersfield, which received £2539 from the Safer Communities Fund for a special event to increase road safety awareness.

He said: "When I speak to members of the public improving road safety is often their number one priority, and both of these projects are raising awareness among younger people which is a key audience for prevention.

"I was really impressed with the quality of the resources and the learning produced here.

"Both are well placed to be shared widely across the community, meaning that a relatively small amount of money can make a real difference.

"Poor road safety behaviours can have such devastating consequences and can be so easily avoided.

"It’s crucial that everyone using our roads takes the time to think about how their actions affect both themselves and potentially other people, and these messages are delivered very effectively by these two projects.

"My thanks go to Leeds City Council and the Polish Saturday School for all their efforts."

The films being produced by the secondary schools include road safety messages about issues like avoiding distractions, using appropriate crossings, being visible and coping with peer pressure.

They also promote sustainable travel facilities and considerate parking.

Prince Henry's Grammar School teacher Sian Ellis said: "I am so proud of the work the students have produced.

"Both films demonstrate some sophisticated use of camera and editing techniques.

"Over the period of the project they have thought sensitively about issues of road safety as well as learning an awful lot about film production."

Launched by Mr Burns-Williamson in 2014, the Safer Communities Fund is financed through money recovered from criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Since its launch the scheme has awarded more than £2.2 million worth of grants, helping more than 510 projects.