CONCERNED councillors believe a new package of road safety measures will cut the number of children hurt at an accident blackspot.

Police statistics show eight pedestrians have been hurt in collisions with cars in the Bridgeman Street, St Helier Street and Mancroft Avenue area of Great Lever, Bolton, in the last three years. Six were children and two were seriously injured.

Most of the accidents are thought to have been caused when children tried to cross between parked vehicles.

There is also a suggestion that in some cases drivers were going too fast to stop when they saw the pedestrians step out.

Now councillors have agreed to a £50,000 package of measures including introducing no waiting orders on large sections of Bridgeman Street and St Heliers Street and creating a pedestrian refuge island.

New road markings will also encourage drivers to slow down.

Bolton Council's planning committee chairman Cllr Prentice Howarth said: "There have been lots of accidents involving pedestrians in this area and we urgently need to do something to slow down traffic and make the roads safer.

"We hope to have the new measures in place as soon as possible."

Residents who attended the council's Deane, Daubhill and Derby area forum have already been briefed on the plans.

The details will now be formally advertised to give others a chance to have their say before the plans are set in stone.

Police, fire brigade and Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority and Derby ward councillors have been consulted on the proposed changes.

Accident statistics refer to 1997, 1998 and 1999 because figures for 2000 have not yet been compiled.

Funding for the safety scheme will come from the council's existing highway budget.