DRIVERS have been given advice on staying awake behind the wheel from pyjama-clad council workers.

Members of Lancashire County Council's road safety group donned their bed clothes to warn motor-ists about the dangers of driving while drowsy.

Falling asleep at the wheel accounts for up to 20 per cent of crashes on motorways in Britain.

And around 300 people a year are killed when a driver has fallen asleep at the wheel.

Road safety manager Neil Cunliffe said: "The end of August is a period when people traditionally make longer car journeys.

"If you fall asleep at the wheel you risk killing yourself, your passengers and other innocent victims."

The road safety group advise the following to reduce the effects of tiredness:
l Get a good night's sleep the night before
l Avoid making long trips between midnight-6am and 2-4pm when natural alertness is low
l Keep away from alcohol
l If you start to feel sleepy find a safe place to stop (not the hard shoulder of a motorway) as soon as possible
l Share the driving if possible.