ROAD accident casualties have been cut by 30 per cent in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale -- the biggest reduction in Lancashire.

The figures for the four months to July 31 show the average reduction for the county as a whole was just 13.5 per cent, compared to the same period last year.

The BPR Pennine division did even better in July, with a reduction for the month of 63.7 per cent.

But the good news was tempered by the fact that fatal casualties doubled to four compared with the April to July period last year.

Inspector Dave Holden of Colne police said: "These statistics are very encouraging and reflect the amount of work carried out by our officers and our partners, who are all committed to reducing the casualty rate. "While statistics do not tell the whole story, in that one casualty is one too many, one should remember that we are talking about 123 people and their respective families who have not had the trauma and upset of being injured in a road crash."

He added: "We are totally committed to reducing the numbers of casualties on our roads and these figures indicate that our current strategy is effective, however there is no room for complacency."

Insp Holden added: "Everyone has a part to play to reducing casualties, be they pedestrians or drivers."

The figures for the Pennine Division for the four month period were:

April to July 2000: Fatal casualties 4 Serious 49 Slight 237 Total 290.

April to July 1999: Fatal casualties 2 Serious 57 Slight 354 Total 413.