AS the school summer holidays approach one Wiltshire housebuilder is warning youngsters across the area to stay away from its building sites.

New home developments under construction may look like fun and exciting places to play, but Barratt Homes is warning children they also pose serious dangers.

The company is building new homes at a number of developments across Wiltshire including The Rushes at Calne, Riverdown Park in Salisbury, White Horse View in Westbury, and Stratton Gate and Blunsdon Mead in Swindon.

Barratt Homes’ construction director Anthony Palmer said: “Building sites are full of potential dangers and, as the school summer holidays are almost here, it is important to remind children and their parents of the need to stay away from them.

“Youngsters are often on the lookout for somewhere new and exciting to play, but construction sites are not adventure playgrounds. While our construction teams watch out for youngsters during the day and we secure our sites at night, we also ask parents to make sure they know where their children are during the holiday time.”

Barratt Homes holds regular safety talks and site visits for schools close to where it is building, to highlight the hazards of playing on or near building sites.

Some of the dangers that construction sites can pose include scaffolding, building materials, heavy duty machinery and vehicles which might be tempting to play on but could be the cause of serious accidents.

With many children playing unsupervised by their parents during the summer holiday the company is concerned they may get into trouble. “It’s important to get youngsters thinking about the dangers that exist to emphasise the message they should stay away from building sites,” Mr Palmer added.