Pupils at a school in Kirkby Lonsdale became the first in Cumbria to use virtual reality to learn about driving safety.

The Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service carried out the session at Queen Elizabeth School earlier this week, working with the Sixth Formers.

The virtual reality technology allow the wearers to experience what it is like to drive without having to get in car.

A spokesperson from the fire service said: "Dean Readman, our Watch Manager for Prevention, and firefighters from White Watch at Kendal Fire Station delivered the road awareness training this week.

"As part of the session, the young motorists were able to enhance their learning by using our newly-purchased VR headsets to immerse themselves fully in a realistic driving situation."

The Westmorland Gazette: The virtual scenario depicted a car being involved in a crash with a tractorThe virtual scenario depicted a car being involved in a crash with a tractor (Image: Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service)

The seven-minute VR scenario depicted a collision between a car and a tractor, from the point-of-view of the driver, and allowed the learner to experience the graphic sights and sounds of a real-life road traffic collision.

The aim is to ensure that young adults across the county hoping to get behind the wheel will be better placed to act if an emergency happens thanks to this unorthodox practice.

The VR headsets have been funded from the £110,000 total secured from the Home Office by Peter McCall, Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, in the latest round of Safer Street grants.

Nationally, these grants ensured that over 100 projects dedicated to making streets less of a threat received funding.

The Westmorland Gazette: The Cumbria officers using new technology to improve road safetyThe Cumbria officers using new technology to improve road safety (Image: Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service)

Every police force area across England and Wales was offered up to £1 million to bid for delivering a range of interventions over the period from October 1, 2023 to March 31, 2025.

Cumbria currently has three projects in operation as part of the grant, which is also designed to target anti-social behaviour and violence against women.

The VR headsets will be used by crews across Cumbria to support their ongoing education work with young motorists.