A SENIOR firefighter has received an award for his work on a major safety initiative.

Bolton Central’s White Watch Crew Manager Phil Dearden received the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service WOW! Award for promoting safer driving among young people in Bolton.

The campaign followed two serious car crashes. The first was in July 2013, when 11 people were injured after a three car smash in St Helens Road, Daubhill. The second happened the following month when a 14-year-old boy and a 26-year-old man were taken to hospital after a two car crash in Blackburn Road, Astley Bridge.

Mr Dearden staged events at mosques across Bolton in which the consequences of racing and antisocial driving were highlighted.

The campaign culminated with an event at Bolton Central Fire Station in June last year, when around 100 students from Bolton College took part in workshops and saw crews cut “casualties” out of an overturned car.

Bolton Central Station Manager, Steve Parkinson, said: “The initiative began in April 2014 after Phil attended his second road traffic collision (RTC) in Rumworth in the same month.

“He analysed the RTCs in the area and identified that most of them were a result of young drivers around the Derby Street / Wigan Road areas.

“He then approached Greater Manchester Police, Bolton’s Community Safety Team, Bolton Council of Mosques and Bolton College and University to carry out a multi-agency approach to the problem.

“RTC demonstrations were presented to local mosques and pupils at the college and university over a six-month period. During this time, RTCs reduced by 50 percent which I firmly believe is down to Phil and his drive to push this initiative forward.

“The whole initiative was well received and I’m really pleased that Phil has been recognised for his efforts”

Crew Manager Dearden was nominated by Sufiyan Kala, a local freelance journalist, and backed by The Bolton Council of Mosques.