POLICE have been told to slow down after 25 people including a man from East Lancashire were killed last year during high-speed pursuits.

Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority Sir Alistair Graham said the number - almost three times more than in 1997/98 - was "totally unacceptable" and demanded urgent action.

Sixteen people were also seriously injured last year.

In March of this year, 59-year-old retired businessman Mohammed Younis was killed when he was struck by a Toyota Corolla being followed by a police traffic car.

Mr Younis, of Mosley Street, Nelson, died in Burnley General Hospital, from head injuries sustained in the collision, which happened in Brierfield.

Members of another police vehicle tended to Mr Younis and a suspect car was apprehended by police.

The PCA is supervising an investigation into the father-of-four's death after Lancashire Constabulary voluntarily referred the incident.

The body of Mr Younis, a retired businessman who used to have a video shop in the Whalley Range area of Blackburn, was flown to Pakistan for his funeral in March.

Mr Younis was a retired businessman who used to have a video shop in the Whalley Range area of Blackburn.

The PCA report also revealed that another six people died and four were injured in incidents involving police cars not in pursuit of offenders.

Mr Graham urged police chiefs to implement the 1998 Lind Report, which recommended improved driver training, to halt the death toll.

By November only 16 of the 43 forces in England and Wales had complied.