Blackpool '˜child road accident capital' of Lancs

Children in Lancashire are at a higher risk of injury on the roads than anywhere else in Britain, according to a new report.

An analysis by the RAC motoring organisation – of accidents between 2010 to 2014 – named Blackpool as the area with the highest proportion of child casualties with 393 victims, followed by Hyndburn with 246, Blackburn with Darwen 491 and Burnley with 248.

Preston came ninth in the list of 10 most affected council areas with 361 casualties.

The rankings are based on average annual child casualties per 10,000 resident children.

The report comes just days after county councillors had called for more information and analysis of why serious injuries involving youngsters are on the increase in the county.

Over a nine month period the number of children killed or seriously injured increased from 52 in 2014 to 68 in 2015, with one death in Rossendale.

County Coun Bill Winlow, chairman of the council’s cabinet committee on performance improvement, said more information was needed to see what could be done to cut the accident rate.

He said: “It’s extremely troubling.

“We need more information.

“We need to know the reasons and how to put it right to prevent it happening again.”

RAC spokesman Steve Gooding said key factors nationally could include level of deprivation, availability of gardens and parks, proximity to schools and amenities, traffic volumes and road layout.

The figures come at a time when Lancashire County Council is at the end of its £9m scheme to introduce 20mph zones across the county – not including Blackpool or Blackburn.