SHOPPERS are being given a poignant lesson in the importance of not being reckless on the road.

To coincide with road safety week, campaigners from the Lancashire Road Safety Partnership and Child Seat Safety are talking to shoppers in Blackburn town centre about the importance of road and vehicle safety.

The message is being reinforced by the presence of the wreckage of a Ford Focus which was being driven by the deceased Daniel Birch.

Mr Birch dies aged 23 in March 2012 after losing control of the Focus and crashing into a gate post. He was three times over the legal drink-drive limit.

Faxi Assi, the fire service's community safety adviser, said: "We are trying to make people aware of the dangers of speed, drink and drug-driving before it is too late. The car helps to reinforce what we are saying.

"People are quite aware of the drink-drive issues but it's always good to reinforce that message."

Claire Waterhouse, from Child Seat Safety, said: "To coincide with Road Safety Week, we are trying to highlight vehicle safety. That's not only speed, drink-driving and seatbelts, but child seat safety.

"People are interested to know what's happened with the car and that give us the opportunity to talk about other issues, not just drink-driving.

"They know that they should have a child seat but it's about it being correctly fitted. There is also some confusion about whether people think they need a child seat once their child goes to school. The answer is they do."

The team will be at Darwen Market from 1.30pm to 4pm tomorrow.