RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has called on Lancashire County Council to reduce the speed limit on a country lane after a serious accident.

A 45-year-old grandmother and her grandson – who was rushed to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital – both suffered serious injuries following a collision with a white Vauxhall Corsa in Worston Road between Chatburn and Clitheroe.

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The grandmother suffered two broken legs and serious facial injuries. and was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Mr Evans says he has written to the council’s head of highways, Phil Durnell, asking for the road to be designated as a ‘quiet lane’.

He said: “It is abundantly clear that Worston Road should not have a 60mph speed limit due to the large numbers of walkers, cyclists and families with young children.

“To continue with the same classification presents a real risk that this terrible accident could be repeated.

“It is dangerous to drive at high speeds down that road and I hope this measure would have the support of the local community with the hope that another terrible accident can be avoided.”

Part of Worston Road was closed off as officers conducted investigations. The driver of the car and its three occupants were not thought to be seriously injured.

Clitheroe councillor Mary Robinson agrees with Mr Evans' proposals and wants the road to have a slower speed limit.

She said: “It should be a 20mph zone in my view and it should be only accessible for those who live down there.

“Going at high speeds on that road would be very dangerous to do and it’s not a road for that.

“It’s an old road but it’s no bigger than a country lane and I used to take the children down there for walks.

“I agree with Nigel and there should be something done about it.”

A Lancashire County Council spokesman said: “We were very sorry to hear of this accident. Our engineers in the Ribble Valley are to discuss the circumstances with the traffic police at one of their meetings scheduled this week.

"We need to understand what happened before we can decide whether action could be taken to prevent a similar incident in future.”