A PACKAGE of improvements is being drawn up in a bid to make East Lancashire's roads safer.

Blackburn with Darwen Council and Lancashire County Council are to introduce more 20mph zones in built-up areas.

And the Blackburn authority is also introducing a number of Home Zones, areas of town where road improvements will create priority for pedestrians.

The first phase of 20mph zones were introduced last year, despite claims from senior councillors and police chiefs that the limits were not enforceable. Instead, the schemes work on peer pressure -- relying on communities to make sure people keep to speed limits.

In Blackburn, 20mph zones are being lined up in areas of Little Harwood, Whitebirk and Shadsworth as well as one in the Birch Hall Area of Darwen.

The scheme will to cost £150,000 and is being implemented as part of the council's public service agreement with the Government. Lancashire County Council has earmarked £177,000 for schemes across East Lancashire in the following areas: Henthorn Road, Clitheroe; Hayhurst Road, Clitheroe; Brown Street, Chorley; Chapel Street, Coppull; Mill Wood Close, Withnell Fold; Spring Street, Rishton; Minehead Avenue, Burnley; Calderbrooke Avenue, Burnley; Rutland Street, Colne; Edgeside Estate, Waterfoot.

Around £350,000 will also be spent introducing Home Zones in the Bastwell, Audley, Infirmary and Bank Top areas of Blackburn.

Road improvements like raised pedestrian crossings will be introduced to give pedestrians right of way in Home Zone areas.

The Home Zone project was pioneered in Oxford, and gives the public the chance to say what improvements should be implemented to make the roads safer for people who don't have cars.

Blackburn and Darwen Council is among the first boroughs in the country to try the Home Zone scheme following its success in Oxford.

Council spokesman Graham Burgess said: "As part of our pioneering Public Service Agreement we are proposing Home Zones in Bastwell, Audley Infirmary and Bank Top, in which priority will be given to pedestrians."