Wiltshire's PCC, Philip Wilkinson, has lauded a primary school scheme in Swindon, designed to guide youngsters on the right path.

The Junior Good Citizen project, running for more than 30 years, engages various agencies to help instruct 10 and 11-year-olds how to better protect themselves.

Lethbridge Primary in Old Town won the prestigious Junior Good Citizen shield this year, after securing the top position among thirty-nine participating schools.

Topics tackled in the sessions spanned from personal and online safety to road safety, weapons awareness, and substance misuse, including a focus on railway safety.

Two new themes were introduced this year with Barnardo's leading a mental health session and Swindon Borough Council leading one on smoking and vaping.

Andrea Hector, tasked with coordinating youth and early intervention at Wiltshire Police, said: "It was a tough decision to choose a winner, but the pupils at Lethbridge thoroughly embraced every element of the day, asked some fantastic questions and it was great to hear how some of them went home and shared the information they’d learned.

"From speaking to the schools, it was important to hear how they found the new topics, especially concerning vaping, particularly relevant to their pupils."

Shelley Gray from the youth and early intervention team, PCSO Emma Coleman, and Mr Wilkinson surprised the students with the award during their assembly.

Bethany, a year 6 pupil at Lethbridge, said: "I really enjoyed going to the Junior Good Citizen event with my year.

"I had a great time and liked how there were different things to do and learn with different people telling us stuff.

"We’re all really happy and it’s a really nice thing for us to win together in our last couple of weeks at Lethbridge before we go to a different secondary school."

Mr Wilkinson challenged the school to retain the trophy as they participate in the scheme next year.

He said: "Early intervention is a key part of my Police and Crime Plan and it’s an area the public have asked me to focus on.

"It creates a relationship with Wiltshire Police officers in a setting where they're comfortable, and gives them the skills and values to set them on the right path as they move to a bigger school.

"The fact that we've consistently had over 30 schools participating every year for the past three years shows how engaged our schoolteachers and our schools are, in what is clearly a very productive and positive scheme."