ISSUES affecting neighbourhoods and advice on home security will be just some of the topics up for discussion with police at a safety day next weekend.

Officers from Bishop Auckland police station will be holding the event in Sainsbury’s car park, St Helen Auckland, on Saturday, December 13, between 10.30am and 4pm.

In addition to handing out advice about issues concerning residents, officers will also be carrying out bike security marking.

The County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service will be in attendance to discuss fire safety related topics, including nuisance fires and fire safety.

People will also be able to take a look at a badly damaged car to demonstrate the consequences of drink-driving.

There will also be the opportunity to try out a simulator which shows the effects of alcohol on peoples’ ability to drive.

PCSO Lee Blaney, from the Bishop Auckland neighbourhood policing team, said: “There are certain times of year when the same issues rear their heads for the emergency services due to the weather and what’s going on in peoples’ social lives.

“We’ve put this event together to remind people how they can avoid becoming a victim of such incidents.

“We want as many people as possible to come along to receive some advice on how they can stay safe, either from crime or from other risks at this time of year.

“We also want this to be something fun that you can bring your kids to, so we’ll have fire engines and police cars for them to have a sit in. However, we’ll also be telling them some important road safety messages while we’re talking to them.”