ScottishPower and Dumfries & Galloway Fire Brigade have joined forces under a Community Safety Partnership to launch a custom-built vehicle to promote the safety message throughout the district.

ScottishPower and the Fire Brigade are jointly providing the vehicle, which can be used as a mobile classroom and accommodate up to 20 people. It has also been equipped with an access for the less able and the interior layout takes account of the needs of people with sight difficulties.

The aim in the first year is to visit 116 local primary schools and deliver the "stay safe" message to more than 3,000 P6 and P7 pupils, with visits to secondary schools scheduled to follow.

The vehicle, with its distinctive markings in ScottishPower and Fire Brigade colours, will be a high-profile presence promoting safety at shows, fetes and fayres this year, starting with Wigtown, Stewartry and Dumfries shows this week.

Modern teaching techniques, such as interactive videos and digital projection, will be used to deliver advice on various safety themes.

Peter Jones, General Manager of ScottishPower's Southern Region, said: "The Community Safety Partnership is very much part of our involvement as a good neighbour in the community and is one of several initiatives we have with local agencies and organisations which help promote quality of life.

"The vehicle will be a very important platform for us to reinforce our "look out, look up" warning to youngsters about the hazards of playing in the vicinity of electricity cables or of entering electricity compounds."

Firemaster Dick Ibbotson said: "I am delighted with this initiative, the first of its kind in Scotland, and to be working with ScottishPower to provide life-saving community education in electrical and fire safety".

Further Information:
Gordon Laidlaw,             ScottishPower Press Office               0141 248 8200
Jane Houston,                ScottishPower Southern Region          0845 2727765