A NOTORIOUS country road is to get a facelift and a reduced speed limit in a bid to cut the number of accidents.

Lancashire County Council is spending £30,000 improving the B6236 Haslingden Road/Roundhill Road which runs between Knuzden, Oswaldtwistle and Rising Bridge.

Despite being a winding road, it is a popular commuter route for people travelling between Blackburn and Rossendale who want to avoid the Grane Road, or the longer alternative route along the M65.

It currently has a 60mph national speed limit but 89 accidents have occurred since 2000 on the road and three feeder roads, resulting in 166 injuries, including two fatalities.

Under the plans, approved by county council transport chief Tony Martin on Wednesday, the speed limit on the B6236 and feeder roads Broadfield and White Croft Lane will be reduced to 50mph.

The speed limit on Duckworth Hill Lane, which meets the B6236 at the Britannia crossroads, will have its speed limit reduced to 40mph.

That junction, and its approaches, have been the scene of 47 of the accidents, resulting in 93 injuries, and one of the deaths.

Robert Jamieson, 20, died when his car was in collision with a school bus carrying pupils from Rhyddings High School, Oswaldtwistle, last February.

The bus driver, Fernando Page, of Nelson, was fined £200 and banned from driving for nine months after pleading guilty to driving without due care and attention.

Coun Martin today said: "We plan to spend around £700,000 building a new roundabout.

In the meantime, we need to slow drivers down and make it safer for them."

New markings will be put down on the road to encourage drivers not to overtake.