AN animated film which will help raise awareness to primary school children about the dangers of grooming premiered yesterday at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford.

The story, Mr Shapeshifter, tells the tale of children who are befriended online by Mister Shapeshifter, who offers them friendship, but is really trying to steal their childhood.

It addresses the issue of online grooming, but is done in an age appropriate manner, while still arming the youngsters with the vital information they need to avoid the predators.

The story has been performed as play since 2015 but the people behind it, the GW Theatre Company, were keen to bring the performance to a new medium.

Their Creative Director, Dave Jones, said: “The key for us is that the animation allows us to reach vulnerable kids.

“Many of those that are most at risk to online grooming might not be turning up to school for various reasons, and that was the restriction when we toured schools with the play.

“This animation is freely available online so the teachers can always share it with those kids to watch at home.

“We’re trying to get the whole community involved with our project, making parents aware of the dangers of online grooming too.”

Mr Jones is grateful for the help of Bradford Council too, saying: “Both Bradford and Calderdale Council supported the development of the play.

“That’s allowed us to fund this animation and have the premiere here in Bradford.”

The Children’s Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, was a key speaker at the event and she spoke to the Telegraph and Argus just before the premiere.

She said: “West Yorkshire has lots of communities that are particularly vulnerable.

“There will be children dealing with plenty in their home life and will potentially have others around them that may try and get them into all sorts of things that you wouldn’t want them to be involved in.

“The National Science and Media Museum is the perfect place to launch this for kids, but I want to see it everywhere.”

She praised the work behind staging the premiere, saying: “Everyone that’s been involved here, the local authorities, the Police and Crime Commissioner, the theatre, can be really proud.

“Bradford and West Yorkshire now need to stand up and tell the rest of the world what they’re missing here and how they need to come on board.”

The West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s (WYPCC) safeguarding advisor Stuart Piper was also in attendance.

He said: “This animation has come on the back of a lot of work from the WYPCC over the last few years.

“We’ve invested in safeguarding and protecting children. There was a child sexual exploitation innovation project which reached right across West Yorkshire.

“We’ve looked with partners, children and real experts in this area on how we can take this further forward.

“We came up with this resource, working with GW Theatre, to produce this animation, so it can reach everywhere, and be accessible for everyone.”