AN MP has called for a stop to the carnage on one of East Lancashire's most deadly roads.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans has demanded urgent action to improve safety on the A59 after new figures showed that 40 people had been killed and almost 1,800 injured in a decade.

Many of these happened on the East Lancashire stretch between Preston and West Marton, near Gisburn.

Now Tory Mr Evans wants Lancashire County Council to improve safety on the road.

And as well as contacting the local authority's highways chiefs, he is to write to transport secretary Alistair Darling on the issue.

He said: "These figures are staggering and shocking.

"We are talking about four deaths and almost 200 injuries a year on this road.

"I have repeatedly pressed Lancashire County Council on the need to improve safety.

"We have had at least one death on the A59 this year on top of those given to me in the figures from roads minister, Stephen Ladyman.

"We need a complete survey of the safety on the road which includes the key stretch between the Tickled Trout M6 junction and Clitheroe.

"There are obvious problems such as the roundabout between Sabden and Clitheroe where we have major accident problems.

"But there are obviously other areas that are a risk.

"I shall be writing to Lancashire County Council calling for a complete safety survey and asking for action on those areas which are clear accident blackspots.

"My constituents and visitors to the Ribble Valley and East Lancashire deserve proper safety measures on this road."

Coun Tony Martin, portfolio holder for transport at the county council, said: "We are very pleased that Nigel Evans is concerned about the safety of the road.

"However, if people drive responsibly and within the speed limit there won't be so many deaths and serious injury accidents.

"When his letter comes in we will take it seriously and we will see about putting a traffic survey in place.

"The difficulty is I have a budget of £40million for the county's roads and it's a case of prioritising our scarce resources."

The figures released by Mr Ladyman show that in 1995 there were 210 accidents which caused injuries and five deaths on the A59, in 1996, 205 accidents and eight deaths, and in 1997, 192 injuries and eight deaths.

In 1998, the figures were 166 injuries and four deaths, in 1999 185 injuries and four fatalities and in 2000 there were 172 accidents and two deaths.

In 2001 these went up to 118 (three) but in 2002 they fell to 170 (two).

In 2003 there were 134 personal injury accidents and no deaths but in 2004 this rose to 164 (four).