POLICE chiefs and county highways officials are to step up their crackdown on speeding motorists.

Lancashire County Council is calling on the Government to give it the power to introduce 20 mph zones across the county.

And police say there could be scores of areas with low speed limits soon, to cut down the number of youngsters injured in road accidents.

The latest move is part of a package of measures.

Other proposals include a clampdown on drink driving, tougher action on dangerous driving and upping the number of speed cameras on Lancashire's roads.

The police have also announced a major crackdown on speeding motorists motorways.

Low speed zones are becoming increasingly popular in East Lancashire's towns. But local authorities have to ask for permission from the Government before cutting speed limits below 30 mph.

The Government is keen for more zones to be introduced across the country and has been asking councils for their views.

A report to Lancashire's general sub-committee of highways and transport on Wednesday says the Government's proposals are very much in line with the wishes expressed by the county council and district councils.

It says the police also support the proposals, along with the district engineers.

Graham Harding, the council's environment director, is expecting many requests for such speed restrictions.

Chief Inspector Ian Bell, Lancashire police's head of road safety, said: "We are supporting this move and our main aim is to cut down on the number of children injured in traffic accidents.

" We will be looking at areas where children are at their most vulnerable and the aim is to cut speed limits in conjunction with traffic calming measures.

"There is a proven link between the speed of vehicles and the severity of injuries and we need to get people to reduce their speed."

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