EAST Lancashire farmers are being given safety advice in a bid to reduce the rising numbers of injuries and deaths from agricultural accidents.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has organised the event at Clitheroe Auction Mart next Friday because officers feel they have had little contact with the 400 Lancashire farmers in recent years.

Nationally, there were 53 agricultural fatalities last year -- five in the north west -- a rise of nine from 2000.

The death toll for the 1990s was over 500.

And there have been four fatal accidents at farms in East Lancashire in the past five years.

Roger Kendrick, HM principal inspector of health and safety for the north west, said almost all of these tragedies were avoidable by greater planning and focus on safe practises.

He added: "None were freak accidents that could not have been foreseen or prevented. People working in the industry must recognise that such terrible circumstances can all too readily involve them.

"The industry can reduce this figure and needs to achieve a downward trend in injuries to demonstrate real progress.

"The safety awareness day is a newly developed concept. We have run successful events elsewhere in the country and have tailored the Lancashire event in the light of the feed-back from farmers who attended."

HSE officers believe that farmers will feel more comfortable with the discussion being on neutral ground, rather than feeling they are under the pressure of inspection.

There will be demonstrations of the most-common scenarios, which include accidents with all terrain vehicles, power take-off shafts, roofwork, livestock handling, manual handling, dairy and pesticide concentrates, clearing blockages in machinery and child safety.

The event is organised by the HSE in partnership with the Northern Rural Partnership and the NFU. Ninety percent of Lancashire's 400 farmers have said they will attend.

Any farmer wanting HSE advice can call 0161 952 8200.