THERE is a new kind of 'top trumps' at Blackwood schools - but instead of collecting details about cars, or footballers or dinosaurs, youngsters are getting to know their local bobbies.

Each member of the Blackwood Neighbourhood Policing Team has a card featuring their name, picture, contact details and the area they cover, along with a safety tip such as how to stay safe online or keep belongings safe.

Pupils have to approach patrolling police officers, who will be carrying their personal cards with them over the next couple of months, to obtain the full set of 13.

Junior school pupils from Cefn Fforest Primary and Markham Primary have been given a collector’s board to display the cards they collect on.

PC Dave Abrams said: "We thought this would be a different way of encouraging the school pupils to speak to their local police officers, as well as providing them with important safety advice.

"The cards also have our contact details on them, so if the children have any concerns or worries, we hope that they would be confident to get in contact with us."

Cefn Fforest Communities First has provided funding for the “Know Your Bobby” scheme.