ROAD accidents have been slashed on the notorious Grane Road since the start of the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's Stop the Carnage campaign, it was revealed today.

On average, four people were killed or injured every three weeks on the Blackburn to Haslingden road before the campaign began.

But since the Stop the Carnage was launched three weeks ago, nobody has been hurt on the death-trap route, according to police figures released today.

Sergeant Stuart Isherwood, of Accrington road policing unit, said: "The increased awareness of the dangers of the road seems to be helping. Long may it continue."

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph printed posters for the campaigning residents and dozens were put up by members of the Grane Residents' Association (GRA) along the route to remind motorists of the dangers.

Margaret Murray, secretary of the association, said: "We hope the impact of the Stop the Carnage placards has made drivers aware of the dangers they face when making risky manoeuvres or driving too fast." Since the start of the Evening Telegraph campaign last month, Lancashire County Council gave the go-ahead to plans which will cut the speed limit from 60mph to 50 mph on the main stretch and 40mph at either end of the road - provided residents raise no serious objections.

Grane householders are also currently being consulted on a series of traffic calming measures to further cut speed on the route which has seen double the amount of people injured on it since the M65 extension was opened.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.