CALLS have been made to enforce more 20mph zones in East Lancashire after two youngsters were left with broken skulls in separate crashes.

Thirteen-year-old Luke Mason remains on life-support in Alder Hey Children’s Hospital after colliding with a car, while crossing Lyndhurst Road in Burnley last week.

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And five-year-old Hussain Rashid was placed in an induced coma at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital after being involved in a collision with a Vauxhall Vectra in Brown Street, Accrington, at the weekend.

He was still in a critical condition yesterday, police said.

Although there is no suggestion drivers were at fault in either incident, the accidents have led to renewed calls for speed limits and traffic calming measures in built up areas to be reduced from 30mph to 20mph.

Lyndhurst Road is currently a 20mph zone while the speed limit in Brown Street is 30mph.

The calls come after a fund was set up to help Luke Mason’s family with travel costs to and from the hospital.

So far the online campaign has raised more than £300 with an aim of collecting £2,000.

Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle said: “More 20mph zones is what we were pushing for when I was leader of Burnley Council.

“I think that we have enough 20mph zones now, in the area but the problem is with enforcing them.

“I understand that the drivers in these two cases are not at fault but other drivers do drive over the speed limit which is dangerous.

“I would call on Lancashire County Council to make sure that where there are 20mph zones they are enforced with not just signs but also static and mobile speed cameras.

“However, there is only so much that can be done because whilst there are cars and children there will always be accidents.”

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones said: “Across the whole area of the county council residential areas are all 20mph.

“The problem that we have is that too many people are ignoring the signs and it’s proving hard to enforce the zones.

“I have asked the police for figures on how many people have been caught speeding in 20mph zones and I suspect that the figures are very low.

“We can’t emphasise enough to dangers of excessive speeding.”

The county council’s highways and transport boss, Cllr John Fillis, said: “This is definitely an issue that is worth looking into.

“We are looking at introducing average speed cameras in some areas and other traffic-calming measures such as narrowing roads.

“While there is no suggestion that the drivers in these cases were at fault, there are some bad drivers out there and we need to focus on them.”

The Lancashire Telegraph’s Slower Speeds, Safer Children campaign calls for 20mph zones to be introduced near homes, shops, and schools.