FIRE chiefs took their prevention message to Totton College to give special needs students a lesson in fire safety.

The students, aged 16-50, took part in fun and interactive fire safety awareness exercises as part of the launch of a three-year strategy by Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service.

They were given a tour of a specially adapted fire appliance which is used to visit schools throughout the year.

Chief Fire Officer John Bonney said targeting schools and at risk groups, such as the elderly or those with learning difficulties, was a key part of the service's Integrated Risk Management Plan 2006/9.

"We are trying to make sure that the fires don't happen in the first place by educating about the dangers of fires," he said.

He said 70 per cent of calls were arson related, mostly started by young people.

"A lot of it is brought out of boredom or antisocial behaviour. It maybe a simple bin fire to them but the impact on the community is much wider," he said.

Kay Jackson, who teaches the foundation skills students, said the visit had been worthwhile.

She said: "One of the problems is when fire alarms go off, because they have sensitive hearing, they freeze and don't move or get out of a building.

"This is helping to make them aware of the dangers of fire and what to do. It has to be very visual and reptitive for them to understand."