No 2 Knives was spelled out by almost 300 pupils at Somers Park Primary School, in Portsmouth.

Those who took part in the stunt said they wanted to take a stand against knife attacks among the young.

Year 6 pupil Jake Bessent, 11, said: 'It is an important message because people carry knives around. Lots of people get murdered.

'It felt really strange because we couldn't see the message, it just looked like lots of people standing around.'

As well as pupils from Somers Park, youngsters at St John's Primary School and Arundel Court Junior School also helped spell out the message.

Acting Sergeant Dan Stork Banks, of Portsmouth Central police station, said: 'We wanted to involve the children in a high-profile initiative that would reflect the concerns we all have for children at this time.

'I think the children were able to express their own concerns with the local problem of knives being carried.

'They wanted to send a clear message to the community that they wouldn't carry knives and they wouldn't stand for anyone carrying knives.'

The event was part of a crime reduction and environment week which saw police, local authorities and community groups joining forces to deal with issues that concerned them most.

The week drew to a close on with a Faith and Football tournament and a community fun day at the Charles Dickens Centre. A barbecue was also held in the evening for local residents at Landport Community Centre.

Jeff Rogers, a police community support officer for Charles Dickens east ward, was involved in organising the week. He said: 'If we can get the message across early enough I would hope that in a few years' time it will stick with them.'