A DEVELOPER has warned children to steer clear of construction sites over the summer holidays.

David Wilson Homes yesterday urged youngsters to be aware of the dangers of building sites, noting they can often look like ‘exciting places to explore’.

The housebuilding is currently building several housing estates in Oxfordshire, including in Southmoor, Kingston Bagpuize, and Steventon.

Paul Crispin, managing director at David Wilson Homes Southern, said: “Until they are completed, these places can be dangerous.

“With the school summer holidays now underway, children should be told to stay away.”

He encouraged parents to echo his warning to their children, adding: “We do watch out for youngsters during the day and secure our sites at night.

“[However] we would like to ask parents to ensure the safety of their children during the holidays, especially if they live near an active building site.

“A number of our developments in Oxfordshire are predominantly family-orientated, so it is very important to us to promote the dangers of playing on a building site.”

He said David Wilson Homes holds site visits and regular safety talks for schools close to where it is building new homes, to highlight the hazards of playing on or near construction sites.

Among the newest of the developer’s Oxfordshire homes is the Orchard Gate estate in Southmoor.

In winter it gave pupils at nearby John Blandy Primary School high-visibility keyrings, in a bid to boost safety.