KNOWING your child is stuck in a smoke-filled room or mixing with criminals is every parent's worst nightmare.But on Tuesday children will be queuing up to be in that situation, rubbing shoulders with car thieves and delivering emergency first aid to their friends in the annual Crucial Crew event.

KNOWING your child is stuck in a smoke-filled room or mixing with criminals is every parent's worst nightmare.

But on Tuesday children will be queuing up to be in that situation, rubbing shoulders with car thieves and delivering emergency first aid to their friends in the annual Crucial Crew event.

The Mid Suffolk district Crucial Crew, part of the countywide safety initiative aimed at ten-year old children, will be launched at the Museum of East Anglian Life.

The initiative comprises of nine theatre-style sets, which recreate situations of crime and danger. As the children proceed around the different scenarios, they will experience, and actively participate in, a range of realistic and potentially life-threatening situations. It's hoped that the exercise will not only raise awareness and educate the children about potential hazards and emergencies, but will actually provide them with essential skills so they can deal with a real situation should it ever arise.

"It's a fantastic example of different agencies working together to keep Suffolk's children safe and aware," says Mid Suffolk Council's Paula Batchelor, who has helped to organise the joint event with Stowmarket Rotary Club.

It is estimated that more than 800 children representing 21 local schools will participate in the event.

There will be two sessions every weekday between Tuesday, June 18 and Thursday, June 27. The morning session is from 9.45am to 11.45 am, and the afternoon sessions, 12.45pm to 2.45 pm.

Contact Paula Batchelor at Mid Suffolk District Council on 01449 727118 for bookings.