A HOUSING developer has warned children to stay away from a building site in Bury over the summer holidays.

Barratt Homes is currently at work completing the Waldmers Wood development off Walmersley Old Road after planning permission was granted for 218 homes proposed for the former Tetrosyl site.

Bosses at the firm have now issued a firm warning to both children and parents calling the site "extremely hazardous" and urging youngsters not to try and gain entry.

Neil Goodwin, managing director at Barratt Homes Manchester, said: “Developers like ourselves are building more new homes at sites all over the country, but until they are completed these places can be dangerous.

“Now restrictions have eased and we’re able to venture further afield, children should be told to stay away from construction sites.

“Whilst we do watch out for youngsters during the day and secure our developments at night, we would like to ask parents to ensure the safety of their children during the holidays, especially if they live near an active building site.”

Barratt Homes hosts site visits for local children when possible, and holds regular safety talks for schools close to wherever it is building new homes to encourage site safety and highlight the hazards of playing on or near construction sites.

To combat the pandemic’s challenges of not being able to invite school pupils to its developments to learn about site safety, the leading housebuilder has created a series of interactive videos for children to be educated virtually.

Three videos have been created for pupils in Reception to Year 6, each of which highlight the dangers of construction sites with the help of 'Safety Steve'. One of the videos, aimed at children in Years 3 and 4, can be viewed online.

Videos have been sent to schools up and down the country and, after completing the site safety experience, the pupils have received certificates and been given a range of activities to complete to showcase what they had learned.