The talking Belisha beacon which spoke to schoolchildren and Tufty the squirrel - a huge road safety favourite

Bobby Beacon certainly held the attention of Sunderland school children back in the day.

After all, there can’t have been too many talking Belisha beacons in the world, but this one was doing a great job on Wearside in 1948.

The huge beacon was made in the Sunderland Traffic Department for use in road safety training but as well as looking unique, it could also talk to the children.

Here are some of them coming face to face with the new mascot who was in the company of PC J Aynsley.

Bobby was dressed in a police uniform and sported a moustache as he passed on his road safety tips. Tell us if you either remember him, or maybe the later road safety hero Tufty.

Tufty Fluffytail was the iconic red squirrel who was instrumental in helping millions of children to learn about road safety over four decades from the 1950s to the 1990s.

Tufty was not just a character that children loved. There were even Tufty Clubs which were set up all over the country including one in Hebburn as pictured here in 1972.

PC Arthur Newlove, an accident prevention officer, was pictured instructing three Hebburn youngsters at the official opening of the Hebburn Tufty Road Safety Club at St Andrew's Community Centre.

They were, left to right, Anthony Welsh, 4; Jacqueline Hewitt, 3; and Joanne Douglas, 3.

At its peak, there were over 24,500 branches of the Tufty Club and more than 2 million children were members by 1972.

We want to hear from you if you were a member and what you remember about the club’s activities. Maybe you still have your Tufty Club badge.

Tell us more by emailing [email protected]