NEW speed limits are being introduced at two rural blackspots after council bosses admitted previous attempts to cut accidents had failed.

The moves -- which will include mobile speed camera enforcement -- will take effect within weeks on the A675 south of Abbey Village and on the A666 between Bull Hill, Darwen, and the Bolton boundary.

Police have agreed to carry out regular mobile speed camera checks on the road to make sure people stick to the new 50mph limit. Previously it had been the national speed limit of 60mph on single-carriageway roads.

Villagers in Abbey Village, on the A675, previously called for a reduction in the speed limit, clainming motorists were failing to slow down when they entered the village.

Initially, electronic mobile signs will be placed on the two roads telling drivers what their speeds are and warning them to slow down. This will be followed by mobile speed cameras later in the year.

Accident statistics for the A675 between the Chorley boundary and Belmont show that, between 1996 and 2000, 39 people were injured on the road, of which 11 were serious. That is an average of 7.8 casualties per year.

After the introduction of white lines on the road -- which it was hoped would cut accidents because it would keep people on the right side of the highway -- the average number of casualties on the road rose to 15. That works out at 15 per year in 2001 and 2002.

On the A675 between Belmont Village and the Bolton boundary, there have been three fatalities since 1996 -- two of which came in 2001 after new white lines had been put down on the main road.

Council officers say the lines have had the unexpected effect of 'improving alignments' for drivers on the road, making them more confident and in some cases increasing speeds.

There have been a spate of accidents on the A675 already this year. Ten people were injured in four separate accidents in just three days at the beginning of July and in another accident earlier this month, a car ended upside down in a field next to the road after an accident. No-one was in injured.

Villagers in Abbey Village had called for traffic calming and a reduction in the speed limit from 60mph to 50mph between their area and Belmont in a bid to slow drivers down.

Today, Coun Jean Rigby, a councillor for North Turton and Tockholes ward, which covers the A675, said: "The A675 is a very fast road and drivers do need to slow down, but often they won't unless they think they might get caught.

"The road has particular problems with young boy racers because and they do drive very fast. Often it is the innocent, law-abiding road users who suffer the most from their actions so if they know they won't get away with speeding, all the better.

"I can see the concerns of people in Abbey Village because drivers are always reluctant to slow down."

Coun Andy Kay, in charge of regeneration at the council, said: "The white lines did not have the desired effect and that will be taken into consideration when looking at similar schemes in the future.

"But our options on roads like this are quite limited. Because they are rural, we can't go putting street lights up.

"And we can't second guess the reaction of drivers to our work. Feeling safe isn't the same as being safe and drivers need to remember that."

Colin Lord, who lives in Miller Avenue, Abbey Village, appealed for drivers to stick to the limits.

He said: "I moved here from Blackburn two years ago and expected it to be quiet, but the speeds that people travel down here are ridiculous. They should take a look at what has happened to David and have a think about what they are doing. I can't even let my 12-year-old son out on the road.

"I wish people would just think about others who live in the village and have to put up with their speeding."

On the A666 Bolton/Blackburn Road between Bull Hill, Darwen, and the Bolton boundary, there were 14 casualties a year between 1996 and 2000, with two fatalities in 2000. This rose to 22 after the white lines were put down, although there have been no fatal accidents since.