THERE has been no reduction in the number of deaths on Lancashire roads - despite the county getting 271 extra speed cameras in the past six years.

New figures published by the Department For Transport at the request of an East Lancashire MP show that 54 people died on Lancashire's roads in 2004 - compared with 53 in 2000, the year cameras started to appear.

And throughout the life of the speed camera regime - which saw the number of cameras increase from 69 to the current 340 - the deaths figure has never dropped below 53.

In Blackburn with Darwen, where figures are compiled separately, the number of road deaths had fallen from five in 2000 to two in 2004 but has risen again to four in 2005.

Lancashire County Council today claimed the figures should not be taken in isolation - and should also include the number of people injured on Lancashire's roads.

But while the number of people injured is lower than in 2000, it has begun rising again in the last two years.

The number of pedestrians injured on the roads was 779 in 2000, but dropped to 688 by 2003. However, in 2004 it had risen again to 715.

Likewise, the number of cyclists injured on the roads fell from 403 in 2000 to 330 in 2003, but rose to 356 in 2004.

The number of drivers injured in 2000 was 2,659, but by 2004 was 2,868, while the number of passengers in 2000 was 1,554 compared with 1,612 in 2004.

Those figures are for all injuries, rather than just 'serious injuries' which the county council publicises. The number of deaths and serious injuries was 996 in 2000, compared with 888 in 2004.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans today said: "I do not oppose speed cameras if they are used sensibly, but unfortunately there is an all too fine line between saving lives and going on a money grab.

"These figures would suggest the balance isn't right because deaths and accidents are on the rise."

A spokesman for the Department for Transport confirmed it used the statistics when it carried out a review of the effectiveness of speed cameras, which led to a ban on new cameras and an insistence that existing camera cash should be used for a wider range of traffic calming measures.

He added that at speed camera sites - usually accident hotspots - the cameras had resulted in massive reductions in casualties.

But Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said: "I have been saying all along that cameras won't save lives or reduce accidents overall. They are just a one-trick pony.

"We need a more holistic approach which includes better speed awareness training before a driving test is taken. That would make the roads safer.

"These sorts of figures demonstrate why the Department for Transport has taken the decision it has."

Lib Dem leader on Lancashire County Council, Coun David Whipp said: "The Road Safety Partnership needs to work to turn speeding into drinking and driving in people's minds.

"Nothing will be achieved until people think as badly about speeding as they do drinking and driving."

The Safespeed campaign for more effective use of speed cameras said Lancashire's figures were reflected nationally. A spokesman added: "It's long been clear to me that speed cameras are damaging road safety. They focus everyone on the wrong safety factor. We're paying a price in blood for ill-conceived blunders.

"Road safety is about skills, attitudes and responsibilities, not about the number on a roadside sign."

In 2003, Blackburn with Darwen Council spent £1million improving safety on side streets after concerns were expressed people were using them at speed to avoid the cameras.

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "Taken alone, the number of fatalities is not a good indicator of safety on the roads.

"While the circumstances surrounding all fatal accidents are always investigated the relatively small number of fatalities mean there can be large percentage fluctuations from year to year.

"The council therefore collects figures on the number of people who are killed and seriously injured which gives a better picture of accident trends.

"We have reduced this rate not only by installing speed cameras but through education, training and publicity campaigns and also by carrying out engineering works to make roads safer."

But a spokesman for the RAC Foundation said: "Cameras shouldn't be the be all and end all when it comes to road safety."