A PARK and ride scheme could be on the cards in an attempt to reduce car congestion at Burnley General Hospital.

The health trust board was warned at its meeting that traffic problems could lead to a serious accident at the site.

Frank Clifford said there were dangerous vehicle movements especially in and around the entrance area which presented a difficulty to frail and elderly people who were making progress on foot into the hospital.

He said: "It is the volume of traffic parked in disabled spaces and contractors' vehicles parked up. We need to do more to make the people feel comfortable in the approach to the main entrance.

"I am seriously worried about an accident occurring and resulting in us getting a critical incident report."

Facilities director Geoff Summers said a lot of money had been spent on additional footpaths and other measures but people were continuing to walk on the wrong side of the roads.

Chief executive David Chew commented: "I would say it was congested rather than dangerous. We have made some progress within the current confines of the lay-out of the site. We have tried to limit parking and to segregate the pedestrians from the vehicles."

Mr Chew said the Trust was looking at a joint scheme with Burnley Council to provide an additional 200 car parking spaces at the Rakehead recreation ground during the phase five development and also looking at the potential of a park and ride scheme from the recreation ground.