A RADCLIFFE man who saw his best friend killed in a drink-drive accident has launched a campaign for automatic breath-testing.

Mr Thomas Killoran, of Bolton Road, wants all drivers involved in car accidents to be breathalysed and seeks the introduction of random breath-testing all year round, not just at Christmas.

He was speaking at a Bury South Police and Community Consultative Group meeting in Radcliffe on Monday.

Mr Killoran began campaigning against drink-drivers after he saw his friend, Gareth Thomas, horrifically killed by a drunk driver who went to jail.

Since the 1993 tragedy Mr Killoran has become a leading campaigner and high-profile member of the Stop Murder By Cars Group.

His latest campaign was sparked after he witnessed Radcliffe pensioner Mr Andrew Hemmingway (79) get knocked down just before Christmas as he crossed Bolton Road. He died last week after a long stay in hospital.

Mr Killoran said: "I was on the scene and I was horrified that the lady driver was not breathalysed. The police officer seemed more interested in asking people if Mr Hemmingway had been drinking."

Mr Killoran was amazed to discover that Greater Manchester Police is one of the few forces in the country that does not automatically breathalyse drivers involved in accidents.

He said: "I was absolutely shocked and will be writing to the chief constable of Greater Manchester, Mr David Wilmot, urging him to exercise his right to breathalyse all those involved in road traffic incidents."

Mr Killoran added: "We are never going to get rid of drink-drivers, but steps have to be taken to try to do something.

"Last year 3,662 people were slaughtered in this country due to road traffic incidents. The majority were caused by drivers being over the limit."

Ch Insp David Bleackley of Bury Police said: "It is not mandatory for this force to breathalyse after accidents. It's down to the judgement of the individual officer."

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