AN EAST Lancashire hospital consultant has called for extra government funding to raise awareness and help prevent road accidents.

The call comes on the day the Road Safety Is No Accident report was launched by the World Health Organisation and the World Bank.

The report says that road deaths will increase by 80 per cent in low and middle-income countries by 2020 without immediate action to improve road safety. Last year 91 people died on roads in Lancashire.

Sanjoy Bhattacharyyi, consultant in Accident and Emergency at Burnley General Hospital, today said senior health care staff would be happy to help spread road safety messages across East Lancashire and appealed for Government support.

Mr Bhattacharyyi said: "It is difficult to give a figure but we get a fair share of road traffic injuries through A and E -- these include people in car collisions, pedestrians who are knocked over and cyclists who either hit something, fall off or are knocked off by a vehicle.

"We have a role in A and E to educate the public and we stress the safety messages to patients but we wish that more could be done. We feel a bit let down as these things could be prevented.

"I think there should be more awareness from the government and that schools should be given more support to be able to publicise this. Senior staff from the hospitals trust could go to schools to talk about it but we need the support and funding."

One of the issues often highlighted to hospital patients is the importance of wearing a safety helmet when cycling. Another, the importance of wearing seatbelts in the rear as well as front seats in cars.

Police today also highlighted the importance of taking care on the roads. PC Gary Makin, of Accrington Road Policing Unit, said: "There are far too many people killed and injured on out roads. The Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety on World Health Day highlighted the enormous cost placed on our health service after a road traffic collision.

"The message from the police is that we are all road users and road safety is everyone's business. Take responsibility for your actions by sticking to the rules and driving an an appropriate speed."