Safety was top of the bill in a recent competition for children run by Pembroke Dock Fire and Rescue Station and supported by Valero. For seven years now, it has run a firework safety competition for children in all the 12 schools in the local Pembroke and Pembroke Dock area.

The prizes for the winning entries were provided by a donation from the Valero refinery in Pembroke, with children from the junior and senior age groups each competing for the top of prizes of iPads. The second and third prizes were Kindle Fires and iPod Touches. Children from the junior age group designed a firework safety poster, while those from the senior group put together a leaflet.

This year's event was organised by firefighter Jonny Morris, who led the crew to visit the 12 schools, talking to all Year 3 to 6 pupils about the format of the event and where to get inspiration from.

The firework safety competition is just one initiative from the school outreach programme from the Mid and West Wales Fire Service that aims to make children aware of the dangers associated with fireworks around Guy Fawkes Night.

David Hancock, response manager at the station, said, "It's fair to say that hundreds of excellent entries were received, posing a difficult judging challenge for the panel from the Art Department of Pembroke Comprehensive School."

Jane James, public affairs manager at Valero's refinery, added: "Safety is something that is paramount here in the refinery, so we support any initiative that encourages children to think and act safely from an early age. We are delighted to have supported this competition for many years."

The winners were invited to Pembroke Dock Fire Station with their families on November 30 to receive their prizes. The competition was also supported by the Fire Service Community Safety Department and Dyfed-Powys Police Community Support Officers.