HARD-HITTING television campaigns warn people to belt up in the back - but some Gwent passengers are still ignoring the advice.

Surveys by road safety consultants in Monmouthshire and Torfaen reveal many of those not wearing seatbelts in the back of vehicles are children.

The surveys, conducted as part of the Crucial Crew events held annually to educate school children about health and safety, also found some parents let their children get away with it.

In law a driver is responsible for all passengers under 14 years of age and must ensure they wear an appropriate restraint.

But in Monmouthshire 55 per cent of 3,672 children aged 11 interviewed since 1999 admitted not wearing seatbelts.

In Torfaen, of 3,241 children 1,745 said they did not wear a seatbelt regularly.

And even after being shown videos and demonstrations of the severity of injuries that can be caused through accidents where seatbelts are not worn, 1.5 per cent of the Monmouthshire children and 2.9 per cent of those in Torfaen still said they would not wear belts.

Philipa Norris, Capita Gwent road safety consultant for Torfaen, said she is extremely concerned about the findings.

She said: "One of the reasons given by youngsters is 'we are not going far' but statistically we are more likely to be killed in an accident near our home or on short journeys.

"The children in the survey did not realise how vulnerable they could be as passengers. Even when the dangers were explained there were some who were resistant to changing their practices."

Mrs Norris added it was worrying some parents are at best unaware and at worst careless, of the risks involved in not wearing seat belts. She said: "We have done surveys outside schools on arrival and leaving times and we are horrified at the drivers and passengers who don't belt up. It's an on-going problem."

Inspector Gareth Beak, of Gwent Police, said that people could face a £30 fine for not wearing a seatbelt. He added: "Police do actively look for digressions in respect of seatbelt offences."