AN 'UNACCEPTABLE' 168 children were seriously injured or killed in road traffic traffic collisions in East Lancashire over the last five years.

The shock figures obtained by the Lancashire Telegraph show two children died following collisions in Rossendale in 2015 and Blackburn in 2016.

While a further 166 have been seriously injured in the area's roads since 2012.

And Blackburn with Darwen recorded the highest number of child casualties from road traffic collisions in Lancashire with 57, some 26 more than Pendle with 31 who had the second largest figure.

While the figure is 30 for Burnley, 26 for Hyndburn, 15 for Rossendale and nine for Ribble Valley.

The data from Lancashire County Council is specific to child pedestrians on foot and does not include children killed or injured in cars or on cycles.

Jason Wakeford, spokesman for road safety charity Brake, said the figures were 'unacceptable'.

Mr Wakeford said: "Far too many children and adults are needlessly losing their lives on our roads. On average, five people die every single day across the country - this is unacceptable."

The figures follow the launch of a campaign by Lancashire County Council and Pendle Community Safety Partnership aimed at cutting child road deaths and injuries.

It aims to increase the awareness of risks and hazards on the road and highlight common causes of collisions.

Cllr Mohammed Khan, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said its most important goal is to "significantly reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries through road collisions."

Cllr Khan said: "Everyone needs to come together to make our roads safer for all road users.

“These programmes include road sense training to primary school pupils, an education programme for high schools and clearly signed average speed cameras.

"Blackburn with Darwen is at a nine-year low in numbers of serious road accidents.

"Blackburn with Darwen also has a larger population than many of the other areas in the region. The borough also has a younger population compared to the county average, which affects the number of casualties."

Councillor David Whipp, Chairman of Pendle Community Safety Partnership, said: "“We want drivers to take more care when travelling through areas where children may be out playing.

“And be mindful that many incidents happen at the start and end of the day as children travel between home and school.”