VILLAGERS today demanded action after nine people were injured in serious crashes at an accident blackspot in just two days.

People living in Abbey Village said "enough is enough" after three incidents on the A675 trunk road from Blackburn to Bolton.

Police today blamed the latest accidents, which left a 12-year-old boy and his dad seriously injured, on people driving too fast on a section of the road from Abbey Village to Belmont.

The speed limit in the village was reduced from 40mph to 30mph last year as part of road improvements prompted by accidents but residents say it has had little effect because the limit is 60mph on either side.

The village has been earmarked as a potential speed camera site by Lancashire Road Safety Partnership but has yet to have one installed.

Evelyn Cooper, 61, said: "Speed is a terrible problem. We daren't let youngsters play on the road.

"We want speed humps and cameras. Everyone in the village is complaining about this."

Her husband Ronnie, 65, added: "We have lived here for 29 years and the amount of accidents, especially in the summer, is ridiculous."

Mum Lisa Hill, 33, said: "Luckily we have a garden, because there's no way I would let my son play in the front street. Motorists come flying through the village."

Withnell parish council clerk Bernard Golding said: "This bend is notorious and these accidents are being caused by speed.

"We may consider asking the authorities to take a fresh look at this with a view to further traffic calming measures."

Blackburn councillor Jean Rigby, whose ward borders the village, said: "I think part of the problem is that the road was narrowed to force people to slow down, but all it has served to do is make people speed up elsewhere."

On Thursday night, David Wilkinson, 34, of Worthy Street, Chorley, suffered a fractured pelvis when his motorcycle left the road and crashed into a field at Calfhey Bridge.

At 9pm on Friday, again at Calfhey Bridge, a Rover 214 driven by John Anglezarke, 23, of Coppice Close, Chorley, and a Nissan Almeria driven by David Woodhouse, 53, of Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn, collided.

The Rover rolled over and left the road. The Almeira hit a dry stone wall.

Mr Woodhouse suffered multiple fractures to his leg and pelvis, while his wife, Pauline, a passenger in the vehicle, suffered whiplash and shock.

Mr Anglezarke suffered serious whiplash, severe bruising to his body and shock.

Four people were then injured when a Kawasaki motorcycle travelling towards Abbey Village overtook a Subaru Impreza and collided with two on-coming motorcycles, a Suzuki and a Yamaha at 1pm on Saturday. Moments later a Ford Fiesta collided with the debris.

Kawasaki rider Steven Barber, 20, of Tilsley, suffered a broken right leg and crush injuries and was today said to be in a serious condition in hospital.

The rider of the Suzuki, Neil Chadwick, 44, of Radcliffe, suffered a broken right leg and hand injuries, while his passenger, 12-year-old son Daniel Chadwick, suffered a fractured right leg and cuts. Both were in a serious condition in hospital today.

Christopher Ogden, 21, of Walkden, suffered a leg injury.

Insp Steve Sansbury said: "Initial investigations show that excessive speed was a factor in all these incidents. Three accidents in two days in the same road is unacceptable and we are appealing for people to stick to the speed limits."

Witnesses are asked to contact police on 01254 353767.

A county council spokesman said: "We will be contacting the police for details of these accidents and see if any immediate actions needs to be taken.

"The A675 is listed as a site of community concern and is subject of periodic police enforcement already."