While any accident on a farm can be harrowing, when a child is involved it can have a far greater impact on the family and the whole community.

Farms can be great playgrounds for children growing up, but with four being killed in recent years on Scottish farms, the dangers that this can present can have sadly fatal consequences - and with summer holidays now here, the time is right to ensure the safety of children on farms.

NFU Scotland's chief executive Scott Walker commented: "Every child loves being on a farm, but while it can be a place of great fun and excitement, it can also be an extremely dangerous environment - especially for children.

"Too many children have lost their lives on Scotland's farms over the past decade in what is always a horrific tragedy for families and a heart-breaking event for their communities. The fact that farms remain a workplace where children still continue to be killed or injured makes it crucially important that the issue of farm safety is addressed, a plan is devised and implemented properly.

"Summer is a time when children are more at risk with the long school summer holidays and the challenging workloads for farmers. We are encouraging farming families to have a dedicated safe play area for younger children so as to keep them safe from heavy machinery and other dangers around the farm, particularly when farms are at their busiest."

The fatal incidents in Scotland in the last decade are heart-breaking. They have included a young girl being hit by a reversing tractor and trailer as she cycled in the farmyard; another young girl was hit and crushed by an ATV against a gatepost; a teenage boy died when he fell through a plastic skylight window to the concrete floor below and another young boy died after being trapped underneath a quad bike when it overturned.

Across the UK, the ways that a child can lose their life on a farm vary little from year to year. The most common causes of death and major injury in the last decade include contact with machinery or animals, falls from height, drowning and asphyxiation and being struck by moving vehicles or objects.

Market round-up

The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart sold 2,772 prime lambs in Longtown on Thursday to a top of £94 per head and 208p per kg to average 164.7p (-4.2p on the week).

A large show of 4,600 cast sheep saw heavy ewes sell to £148 for Texels and average £81.45 (-£2.06), while light ewes peaked at £75 for Hill Cheviots and levelled at £52.12 (-£5.25). Rams sold to £168 for a Charollais and averaged £102.32 (+£15.12).