POLICE and bus staff in Bexleyheath have been touring schools to talk to young people about behaviour and safety on buses.

And where better to discuss the subject, than on a bus.

Bexley police’s safer transport team and bus drivers from Bexleyheath bus garage are hosting youth surgeries at schools, onboard a doubledecker bus which they park in the school playground.

During break times, pupils are encouraged to climb onboard and talk about their experiences travelling on buses.

The idea is to talk to young people about their personal safety, queuing and boarding buses and the dangers of playing roadside games.

Students got the chance to sit in the driver’s seat and experience the feeling of driving a busy bus with the responsibility for the safety of passengers, pedestrians and fellow motorists.

They were also invited to write messages about their concerns when travelling on buses, all of which will be read and passed onto the relevant people.

Team sergeant Ian Ring said: “The children were visibly shocked when they sat in the driver’s seat and realised what a huge responsibility it is to be a bus driver.”