CALLS to help reduce the number of crashes at an accident black spot have been renewed after a 24-year-old woman was seriously injured in a smash.

The A59 in the Ribble Valley is notorious for accidents with calls for improvements dating back decades.

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Now MP Nigel Evans has asked highways bosses and police to carry out a full audit of accidents in a bid to tackle the problem.

It comes after a woman suffered serious head injuries when her car rolled several times after she lost control just past the Sawley Road junction.

She was taken to Royal Preston Hospital. Her condition at the weekend was not though to be life-threatening.

Mr Evans said the accident happened on a particularly bad stretch.

He said: "They look to have started work on the roundabout further down near Sabden so I am really pleased about that.

"There is a clear realisation that the A59 is a dangerous road.

"I believe the highways and police should do a proper audit of all accidents over the last 10 years and look to see what mitigating circumstances can be used.

"There is a massive urgency in order to stop these accidents.

"People are getting killed and injured. I do hope this lady will make a full recovery."

Officers are appealing for witnesses after the accident which happened at around 9pm on Friday and involved a silver VW Polo.

The car was travelling in lane one of the two lane stretch from Sawley towards Clitheroe.

Sgt Tracey Ward, of the Road Policing Unit, said: "This incident has left a young woman with serious injuries and I would appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision to get in touch.

"Her family are being supported by specially trained officers."

Firefighters were also called to the scene after reports that the woman was trapped.

However when they arrived she was already in the care of paramedics.

There were a number of accidents on that stretch last year. Two pensioners suffered significant injuries after a motorbike crash in April while a man and woman were cut from a car in October suffering spinal injuries.

Cllr Mark French, who has also campaigned on the issue, said they should look at reducing the speed limit.

He said: "I am really sorry to hear that somebody has been injured and I wish them a speedy recovery.

"I know improvements are being made. That has been agreed with Taylor Wimpey because of the new housing estate. I believe the agreement is they will build a new roundabout before building houses."

Taylor Wimpey have been given outline planning permission to build more than 1,000 homes on land at Higher Standen Farm.

"I hope it is going to make a difference. I also hope they are going to reduce the speed limit along certain carriageways because that would help", Mr French said.

Cllr Allan Knox said the county council had started removing trees in preparation for the roundabout at the Pendle Road and Clitheroe Road junction.

He said: “Work is due to start on that in July.

“That is after years of campaigning including gathering hundreds of signatures on a petition.

“For that one junction there have been 13 accidents in the last five years.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101 quoting log number 1364 of February 24.