WALKING through Victoria Square was like stepping back in time when a convoy of 1970s cars rolled into town.

A 1971 police Range Rover, Rover P5B Coupe and Volkswagen campervan evoked an era where mustachioed drivers wore flares, metallic paint was still unheard of and Britain still had a thriving automotive industry.

More importantly for members of the Drivesafe campaign, which brought the cars to Bolton, the standards of driving were a cut above those of today.

Organisers put the cars on show to remind drivers what the roads were like in the 70s, when - according to Drivesafe - motorists were more relaxed and patient with other road users.

They say motorists today are more aggressive behind the wheel and their behaviour is more likely to cause an accident.

Statistics show that 18 per cent of accidents across Greater Manchester between 2004 and 2007 were caused because of poor driving skills, often because drivers had lost concentration.

Karen Delaney, spokesman for Drivesafe, said: "People often get angry when other motorist cut them up, or if they let someone out of a road and the other driver doesn't say thank you.

"When motorists get road rage and start swearing at other drivers, or speed up to chase them, this can increase the risk of having an accident.

"We want to encourage drivers to be more thoughtful and courteous to others on the road to cut the number of accidents and make driving a more pleasant experience."