A POPULAR policeman who gave road safety tips to more than 100,000 children has retired from the force -- to teach children road safety.

Geoff Chadwick is no longer PC 5975 but his new job is remarkably similar to his old one.

He has been appointed by Blackburn with Darwen Council to work at 11 primary schools, giving road safety advice.

The post was created after the council received £90,000 worth of government cash for the scheme. After 30 years and four months' service Geoff handed over his uniform after having tea with Chief Constable Paul Stephenson.

Geoff, 53, of Feniscowles, was a beat bobby in Blackburn for the first nine years of his career.

He said: "We got to know people and the criminals. Even though it had been changed, it was still like the Blackburn borough force. It was one big family and they welcomed me in.

"It's good that they are now putting officers back on the beat. It is what the people always ask for when you see them."

Geoff was a draughtsman when he left school. His skills were seized upon by police chiefs who asked him to draw plans of murder scenes.

He said: "The bodies were still there and I saw one or two sights, but it was part of the job.

"Post mortem examinations got to me more because of the smell. You can never get used to that."

In 1981 Geoff was appointed to teach primary school children road safety. He held this role until yesterday, although it became more focused on tackling teenagers who commit crimes in recent years.

Over the years he reckons to have taught more than 100,000 youngsters. He and his wife, Eileen, have never had children and he considers the pupils to be his "surrogate" family. He said: "I don't think we should have been focused away from road safety.

"But the new scheme is going back to where my role started.

"There is a need to teach young people road safety because more people than ever drive young.

"I hope the children I have taught over the years remember some of the points we tried to put across to them. If it has helped them that is great."

The next generation of youngsters will receive Geoff's help from February when he takes up his new post.