A ‘MUCH-NEEDED’ pedestrian crossing is being installed at an accident hotspot after years of campaigning.

Traffic lights will be installed in Blackburn Road in Accrington at the spot between Princess Street and Monk Street.

Cllr Munsif Dad, who represents the area on Lancashire County Council, said he has lived in the area for 25 years and noted a number of accidents.

The new crossing is part of the £8.3million Raza Jamia Masjid Mosque development which recently opened in Grimshaw Street, Accrington.

Cllr Dad said: “Since I became a county councillor six years ago there have been quite a number of serious accidents there.

“We’ve had lots of complaints from residents in the area raising concerns about the traffic.

“A lot of children and elderly people live in the area, the crossing is much-needed.

“It’s a very busy road and it always has been, and there has been a lot of great development in the area.

“We are absolute delighted to have this done and we will continue working to make sure it is safe for pedestrians and commuters.

“I just hope that the traffic lights will help and benefit the whole community.”

Last year two children, aged three and five, were taken to hospital after being injured when they were hit by a car on the corner of Monk Street.

Police cordoned off the street as they investigated the incident, which witnesses said happened after the two children were on their way to a nearby mosque with their mother.

Cllr Dad said at the time he was campaigning for a crossing to be put in place at the junction.

An eight-year-old girl was also injured in a three-car collision at the junction with Monk Street at around 5pm on Wednesday, August 23, last year.

County Council bosses said a number of incidents had been reported to them and the crossing was being installed as part of development work.

Area highways manager Dwayne Lowe said: “A new crossing will be installed on Blackburn Road as part of the planning permission for the new mosque.

“This is being funded by the mosque, and the work will be carried out by the county council.

“It will take around five weeks to install the equipment and construct the crossing.”