HIGHWAYS bosses have protested after a Lancashire road was again named as one of the most dangerous in Britain.

A stretch of the A675 between junction three of the M65 towards Preston was named in the top 10 of ‘Britain’s persistently higher risk roads’.

Lancashire County Council insisted it had slashed the accident rate on the A675 after it featured in the Road Safety Foundation’s annual study last year.

Tory councillor Tim Ashton insisted the foundation’s figures were ‘out of date’ as they dated back to 2008.

The number of fatal or serious accidents had dropped to eight from 11 from 2003-2005 to 2006-2008.

A second, eight-mile stretch of the A675, from the motorway towards Bolton, was also in a list of the most dangerous roads when motorbike accidents were not included.

Foundation chairman Dr Joanne Hill said small improvements to dangerous roads could save the economy £18 billion a year in road accidents.

She said: “Too often we pay for emergency services, hos-pitals and care for the disabled rather than taking easy steps to put road design faults right.”

Since the foundation’s study, a £52,000 safety scheme, including a lowered speed limit and improved signs, has been carried out on the stretch of the A675 between the M65 and Higher Walton.

County Hall bosses said there had since only been one slight collision.

Coun Ashton said: “This annual study is a worthwhile reminder to drivers to take care on the roads, but each year the figures are out of date.”

He claimed the council had ‘invested time and money’ into improving its roads, adding: “Drivers too have to play their part in helping make our roads safer places.”