MP Nigel Evans is demanding action by Lancashire County Council and police to cut the unusually high toll of deaths and injuries in the Ribble Valley.

He spoke out after a new survey showed that his rural constituency had the 19th worst road safety record in the country.

An average of 8.1 people per 1,000 are killed or hurt on Ribble Valley's roads every year.

This compared with just 1.75 in the city of London and an average of under five in counties such as South Wales, Cleveland, Gwent and Suffolk.

The worst figure is in Westminster at 13.5 with North Warwickshire, Tandridge in Surrey and South Buckinghamshire all coming in at over 10.

Tory front bencher Mr Evans is deeply alarmed at the statistics compiled by Britain's police chiefs.

He said: "These are depressing statistics and action must now be taken to ensure that the roads in the Ribble Valley are made safer.

"I am launching an initiative whereby Lancashire County Council, the police and myself will get together and the three of us will work together as a matter of urgency to make Ribble Valley roads safer.

"I am inviting constituents to contact me with any information about any blackspots in the area.

"We can afford to wait no longer for people to be killed and injured on our roads before urgent action is taken.

"I hope that this survey will act as a catalyst for urgent action to introduce road safety measures which will drastically reduce the number of deaths and injuries in the Ribble Valley and ensure safer roads throughout the whole of the constituency."

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