RESIDENTS living near to two accident blackspots are celebrating today after Lancashire County Council sanctioned £90,000 worth of improvements as part of a safety scheme.

The first project, which will cost £35,000, will include the introduction of traffic calming measures and a new 20mph speed limit on Thompson Street, Padiham.

The decision to carry out the work follows several serious and one fatal accident on the road over the last few years.

In August 2000, Adam Jackson, seven, died following a collision with a car as he cycled along Thompson Street on his BMX bike. The youngster, a pupil at Brunshaw Primary School in Burnley, was taken to hospital but later died.

The second scheme on Burnley Road between Victoria Road and Green Lane, Padiham, will cost around £55,000.

The project will involve improving facilities for pedestrians.

A survey carried out by Lancashire County Council engineers revealed there have been 24 accidents on Burnley Road since 1997.

Most of the accidents involved pedestrians crossing the main road, but some also involved cars skidding on the wet road surface. Among the improvements planned will be a pedestrian guard rail, anti-skid surfaces on the road and new cycle lane markings.

Lancashire County Councillor Marcus Johnstone said he had been campaigning for the safety measures for two years.

He added: "Thompson Street is an accident waiting to happen.

"I am very glad that we will see this important work carried out as soon as possible.

"I hope these measures will improve safety on what are very dangerous stretches of road."