TWO school pupils were cut out of a wrecked motor car in Princes Risborough yesterday, as part of a road safety demonstration to stop young people from driving recklessly.

The event formed part of this year's "For My Girlfriend" campaign, run by Buckinghamshire County Council's road safety team.

The hard-hitting scheme traditionally peaks in the run-up to Valentine's Day, and is designed to encourage young people to drive more responsibly.

It also highlights the fact that more young females, aged between 17 and 19, are killed or seriously injured while travelling as passengers in cars rather than as drivers.

Keith Wheeler, Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service's road safety manager, said: "At this romantic time of year we are taking the opportunity to ask young male drivers to take special care of their female passengers - and to point out the particular dangers that young females face as passengers."

Firefighters staged the aftermath of a crash involving two cars in Princes Risborough station's drill yard. Two sixth form pupils, from Princes Risborough School in Merton Road, played the parts of the seriously injured driver and his fatally injured front-seat passenger.

The fire crew used hydraulic cutting gear and other specialist equipment to release them. The passenger was placed in a body bag and the driver lifted out on a longboard, and put into the care of paramedics and taken to hospital.

Ali Angus, Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service's community safety coordinator, gave a commentary as events unfolded. He blamed the staged tragedy on a driver showing off, by speeding, drink driving, or using a mobile phone.

The safety initiative is supported by Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service and the British Red Cross.