LITTLE Isabella Bye has got the message - she's stuck stickers on the stairs, the oven and the kettle even tells her grandma to "bee careful".

Very young children are responding well to an award-winning programme, which seeks to prevent accidents.

Nurses, educators, police officers and a marketing company - the Blandford Child Accident Prevention Group - have devised Bee Careful, with help from their young clients.

Ten per cent of North Dorset's children are treated in Blandford Community Hospital's minor injury unit (MIU).

MIU Sister Jill Sheard said one third of their patients were children.

"We believe this campaign works. You're asking the children to take responsibility on accident prevention," she said.

Isabella, three, landed up in the MIU when she fell down the stairs and her mum Vanessa was invited to try Bee Careful.

"She loves it, she got really into it," Vanessa said.

"I sat down and explained to her to go around and see what things might be dangerous in the house."

Isabella put stickers on the kettle, the iron, the stairs and the French windows.

"I can see a difference," said Mum. "When my parents have been over she says 'You have to be careful making a cup of tea' to her gran."

Children in PC Simon Evans's neighbourhood - including his own - can be seen in cycle helmets since he visited their school and showed a video on road safety.

"The campaign has proved to be extremely successful, the kids are very responsive," he said.

The Friends of Blandford Hospital have helped get the scheme off the ground but sponsorship is sought to roll the scheme out nationally.

If you would like to help, call Sister Sheard on 01305 361732.

First published: October 25